Texan mother Drowns her 5 kids in bathtub

ravanok

im am greatly disturbed by this

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taken from cnn.com

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HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- Calling it "the most horrendous thing I have ever seen," a Houston prosecutor said Friday that his office was beginning its investigation of a mother accused of killing her five children.

Harris County, Texas, Prosecutor Joseph Owmby also said his office will be examining circumstances surrounding the deaths of the children to decide what penalty to seek against Andrea Yates.

County Prosecutor Kaylynn Williford also said the next court appearance for Yates would be July 24.

Friday's Houston Chronicle reported on Yates' admission of the killings to a police investigator, who told the newspaper she revealed the disturbing details in a "zombie-like fashion." The investigator told the Chronicle that Yates "methodically drowned her five children one by one in a bathtub."

"I've been here 15 years ... this is the most horrendous thing that I have ever seen," Owmby said of the crime.

The newspaper also reported that Yates' 7-year-old son Noah, when coming upon the sight of his mother drowning his 6-month-old sister, asked his mother, "What's wrong with Mary?" after which he fled. The paper quotes the investigator as saying that Yates chased the boy and dragged him back to the bathtub, where he was drowned.

Owmby explained the capital murder charge entered on Thursday was for killing two people in the same action, Yates' sons Noah and John. He said that is the only charge against Yates at this time but that more charges for the other three deaths could come later.

After her initial appearance before a Harris County judge on Friday, Yates met with her court-appointed attorney. It is unclear what her defense will be, or if the prosecution will seek the death penalty.

Red-eyed and sometimes fighting to maintain his composure, the father of the children, NASA computer engineer Russell Yates, told reporters on Thursday that he supports his wife because she had been battling postpartum depression and he believed she "wasn't herself." (More on Russell Yates' comments)

"She loved our kids," Yates said, holding a family portrait and describing his wife of eight years as a "kind, gentle person."

Andrea Yates is being held without bond. Authorities said she is cooperating with investigators and answering their questions.

Police said the woman confessed to killing Noah, Paul, John, Luke and Mary Yates. The mother on Wednesday had summoned police to the Yates home, located in the Houston suburb of Clear Lake, about 20 miles southeast of the city.

After officers arrived, Yates led them to a bedroom where a 6-month-old girl and three of her brothers -- ages 2 to 5 -- were found dead with a sheet over them on the bed, authorities said. The body of the fifth child, 7-year-old Noah, the oldest of the siblings, was found by an officer in the bathtub.

Russell Yates said his wife called him at work Wednesday and told him to return home. Concerned by the tone of her voice, he asked if anyone was hurt. She responded yes, telling him it was the children, "all of them."
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if she gets away with this i will feel very ill for a very long time, plus the fact that her husband is supporting her even though she killed their kids astonishs me....


if it was me in the husbands position i would be on the side of the prosecution and pushing for a deth sentence.