Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Five Children Killed: Mother Charged With Capital Murder

Aired June 21, 2001 - 08:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Five children are dead in a Houston suburb -- the Houston suburb of Clear Lake -- and their mother is charged with their deaths. Police say 36-year-old Andrea Yates has been under treatment for two years for postpartum depression.

More on the story now from CNN's Ed Lavandera. He is on the scene -- Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

This case has now moved into the hands of Houston prosecutors. The Yates family home in this Houston suburban neighborhood is now empty, where -- this is very close to the Johnson Space Center.

But the formal court process for Andrea Yates started at 1:30 in the morning Central time; 36-year old Andrea Yates appeared briefly before a judge. This is where she learned formally that police had charged her with capital murder.

Police say she drowned her five children. One girl was 6 months old. The four boys ranged in age from 2 to 7. Now, by most accounts, the Yates family was quiet and enjoyed family outings around the neighborhood here. Neighbors say that they were often seen playing basketball in the front yard and that the mother often took her kids to a nearby park.

Some neighbors started learning of problems over this weekend, though. Home video a birthday party at the home of one of the Yates' neighbors showed the three oldest boys enjoying a good time and trying to crack open a pinata. The children's father, Russell Yates, apparently brought the kids to the party. But when a friend asked where his wife was, Russell Yates reportedly responded by saying she had stayed home because she was feeling depressed.

Now, Andrea Yates apparently tried to commit suicide in 1999. And during the last two years, as we've mentioned, she has undergone treatment for depression because of postpartum depression. She's expected in court on Friday for an arraignment hearing. And, at that time, she's expecting to plead whether she's going to plead guilty or innocent to these charges.

Of course, in Texas, capital murder charges carry with it the possibility of the death sentence.

I'm Ed Lavandera reporting live in Houston -- Carol, back to you.

LIN: All right, thank you very much Ed, as we follow that story.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com