Rusty Yates, the former husband of Andrea Yates, the infamous mother who drowned their five children in 2001, has forgiven her for her actions. He maintains regular contact with her at the Kerrville State Hospital, where she is a patient due to her mental health condition. Rusty and Andrea discuss their children, who would now be adults if they were alive.
Rusty, now 59, has visited Andrea at the facility and continues to speak to her at least once a month. Despite divorcing Andrea in 2002 and remarrying, Rusty still works as a NASA engineer and keeps a website dedicated to preserving the memory of his children.
During an interview with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, Rusty expressed his belief that Andrea’s actions were a result of a sickness and not a reflection of her true character as a mother. He emphasized the importance of forgiveness and understanding in dealing with such situations.
Andrea Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2006 after being initially convicted of capital murder. She has been in the psychiatric hospital for the past 18 years and has chosen not to seek release.
Rusty’s views on mental illness have evolved over the years, and he now compares Andrea’s condition to a physical ailment, emphasizing the need for compassion and understanding in such cases.
