In 2001, Andrea and Rusty Yates had been married for 8 years and had 5 young children - 4 boys and 1 girl. After the birth of their fourth child, Andrea attempted suicide twice and was hospitalized after both times. She began taking antidepressants and seeing a therapist who suggested to the Yates’ that they should not have any more children over fears that it would cause Andrea to spiral down further. Against her therapist's wishes, Andrea gave birth to their fifth child and only daughter, Mary, on November 30, 2000. It was apparent after Mary’s birth that Andrea was suffering from terrible depression again. After cutting herself, she was once again admitted to the hospital and released a few days later with strict instructions that she should not be left alone, especially not with the children.

Against the psychiatrist’s wishes, Rusty had begun to leave Andrea alone for an hour here and there in an effort to help her regain a sense of independence. On the morning of June 20, 2001, Rusty left for work, leaving Andrea alone in their small home with their five children. Rusty’s mother was scheduled to arrive just one hour after Rusty left, so he felt confident that Andrea and the children would be okay for that short amount of time. Unfortunately, he was wrong.

Once Rusty left the house, Andrea filled the bathtub with water. One by one, she systematically drowned each of her children in the bathtub, then laid them on her bed. The last child she killed, her eldest son Noah, she left floating in the bathtub. After all five of her children were dead, she called the police, although she wouldn’t say why she wanted them to come to her house, and she called Rusty and told him to come back home. Andrea was immediately arrested for the murders.

At trial, Andrea pled guilty by reasons of insanity. The jury found that she was able to tell the difference between right and wrong at the time of the murders, and therefore rejected the insanity defense fence and found Andrea guilty on five counts of first degree murder. Andrea Yates was sentenced to life in prison in March 2002. Four years later, Andrea was granted a new trial and again entered into an insanity plea. This time, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity, and was transferred to a psychiatric hospital where she still remains today.