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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Horror in a Houston Suburb: Mother Admits to Killing Her Five Children

Aired June 20, 2001 - 20:00   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.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Tonight: horror in a Houston suburb.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A responding patrol officer came to the door and the woman who was still breathing rather heavily at the time said that I just killed my children.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Police find the bodies of five children. Their mother is in custody. We'll go live to Houston. And, I'll ask an expert how and why such a thing can happen.

More trouble for the FBI: a bureau analyst is accused of selling information to the mob. The attorney general orders an internal review, but Congress wants an outside investigation.

We'll get perspective from Senator Charles Grassley, a member of the Judiciary Committee and from former independent counsel Ken Starr.

And, she's already spent years in a desolate prison high in the Peruvian Andes. Now an American woman is in court again, insisting she is not a terrorist. We'll go live to Lima.

Good evening. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting tonight from Capitol Hill.

It's always an unthinkable act. Psychiatrists have a name for it, filicide, when a parent kills a child. But it appears to have happened today in a suburb of Houston, Texas five-fold. A 36-year-old mother is said to have confessed to police she drowned her five children, ranging in age from six months to seven years, and that's our top story.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is on the scene, and he joins us live with details -- Ed?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Wolf.

No question, this has been devastating news for the city of Houston. Five children murdered in their own home and the prime suspect is their mother. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA (voice-over): In a tranquil suburban neighborhood south of Houston, police started the day responding to a 911 phone call from a woman asking for help.

JOHN CANNON, HOUSTON POLICE: A patrol officer came to the door and a woman breathing heavily at that time said that I just killed my children.

LAVANDERA: When the officer walked into the house, he found a 6- month-old girl and three boys between the ages of 2 and 5, dead in a bedroom. A second officer found a 7-year-old boy dead in the bathtub. Police say their 36-year-old mother Andrea Yates drowned all five children.

CANNON: You could tell she was in some type of panic after she said that she had killed her kids. And our responding officer ourself has children, and he was just basically in shock at that point.

LAVANDERA: The news stunned neighborhood friends, who had just enjoyed a weekend party with three of the Yates' children, but one family friend quickly found out there were problems when she asked Andrea Yates' husband why the rest of the family didn't make it to the party.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I asked him, why didn't you come to the party? And he said she stayed back with one of the kids and her baby because she was having a depression from having kids.

LAVANDERA: There are reports that the first signs of postpartum depression emerged in 1999 when Andrea Yates attempted to commit suicide.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA: We understand Ms. Yates has been under depression treatment for the last two years. As for her husband, Russell Yates, he is a NASA engineer and was at work when police broke the news of what happened in his home. Mr. Yates came to the house earlier on this afternoon, a few hours ago. He packed a suitcase and he left the family home -- Wolf

BLITZER: Ed, what kind of charges is she now facing?

LAVANDERA: Well, Wolf, we understand that Andrea Yates now faces capital murder charges, and that is because that it involves a multiple homicide of two or more people. Under Texas law, if you murder a juvenile under the age of 6, you also qualify to receive capital murder charges.

Police are still investigating this case. They have not yet filed capital murder charges. But of course in Texas, if you are convicted of capital murder, you could face the death penalty -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Ed Lavandera, just outside Houston. Thank you very much.

Government statistics through the year 1999, show that every year there are hundreds of homicides of children under five, and parents are most often the perpetrators: 31 percent of these children were killed by their fathers, 30 percent by their mothers. Most of the others were killed by acquaintances or other relatives and just 3 percent by strangers.

In 1994, national attention was focused on the case of Susan Smith, who confessed to drowning her two young sons in a lake, and was later sentenced to life in prison.

To help us learn why such terrible things happen, I'm joined now by Dr. Neil Kaye in Wilmington, Delaware. He's a forensic psychiatrist and a leading expert on the killing of young children.

Dr. Kaye, thanks for joining us.

All of us are obviously shocked by this. But how extraordinary is this kind of horrible situation?

DR. NEIL KAYE, FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST: Good evening, Wolf, nice to be with you. I just want to start by extending my condolences to the family in this devastating tragedy. As far as the frequency, something like this where a parent has killed multiple children at once is almost unheard of. There are only handful of these cases a year.

So we may see a case of single filicide -- that is, the killing of a child or maybe a mother who might kill two children -- but I have not yet seen a case of a mother killing five children all at once.

BLITZER: Dr. Kaye, what possibly could motivate a mother or a parent for that matter, to do such a thing?

KAYE: Well, obviously, her mental state at the time of the crime is a critical issue for everyone to understand. It appears that she had a history of depression and postpartum depression, which is fairly common.

About 50 percent of mothers with postpartum depression have had depression during the pregnancy as well, and we know she had depression, was under treatment, and had about been on medication. It's quite possible that she herself was feeling suicidal and depressed and decided that it was altruistic basically for her to kill the children prior to killing herself, because she didn't feel that anyone else should either be burdened by raising the children or that the children should live without their own mother or that anyone else was capable.

There's also of course the question of whether or not she was psychotic, meaning out of touch with reality, during this entire event. That's something I'm sure the defense will be investigating.

BLITZER: Dr. Kaye, very briefly -- are there some specific warning signs that our viewers out there should be looking at for this kind of tragic situation?

KAYE: Certainly. It's very common to have what we call the baby blues. Some depression after pregnancy, about 85 percent of women have that between days three and seven in the postpartum period. A woman who continues to be depressed after day ten needs to be suspected of having postpartum depression, particularly if there are problems of sleep deprivation, lack of interest or bonding in the child, not taking care of herself in any way.

Remember, this is a case here where this woman had multiple young children. We don't know about her support system and network. It's very easy -- easily understood that she could have been overwhelmed. Could have had hormonal imbalance related to postpartum period. Sleep deprivation, of course, which can affect thinking and judgment, so there's a lot of things to investigate. But anytime a woman is depressed after day 10 of a delivery they really should be screened by an expert.

BLITZER: Dr. Kaye, thank you so much for joining us.

In other stories we're covering tonight: more than five years ago, American Lori Berenson was convicted by a Peruvian military court of collaborating with leftist rebels, and sentenced to life in prison. After widespread protests her conviction was overturned. Now, she's had another trial in a civilian court.

Let's go live to CNN's Harris Whitbeck. He's in Lima, Peru for the latest -- Harris?

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, in the maximum security prison behind me, the final stages in the retrial of Lori Berenson are now under way. For the last two hours, the court has been reading what is the verdict in this retrial. What is a verdict that is wildly expected by many including Lori Berenson and her parents to be guilty.

Earlier today, Lori Berenson had a chance to speak to a panel of judges to make her final case in this trial, and she said this morning that she felt she had been treated unfairly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LORI BERENSON, DEFENDANT (through translator): They used me as a symbol of political violence and a symbol of the idea of terrorism for more than five years. And that was a very unjust punishment and it's been -- an act of defamation because I'm not a terrorist and I didn't deserve that kind of classification.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITBECK: If in fact the verdict tonight is guilty, Wolf, Lori Berenson and her parents said they would appeal to the Peruvian supreme court.

BLITZER: And very briefly Harris, if she's found guilty, how much time is she expected to spend in the Peruvian prison? WHITBECK: Well, the sentence would be for 20 years. That of course is a lot less than the life in prison that the previous military court had sentenced her to.

BLITZER: Harris Whitbeck in Lima, thank you very much.

Here in Washington, FBI director Louis Freeh said goodbye to his colleagues today. No replacement has been named, but sources say there is only one remaining candidate: the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, Robert Mueller. Freeh's departure later this week comes at a time of turmoil for the bureau. Let's go live to CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, everyone seems to agree that someone needs to be keeping a close eye on the FBI. The question is who.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over): One proposal for dealing with the recent string of mishaps at the FBI is to create a separate inspector general's office within the Bureau.

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: What we need is someone on the ground in the agency accountable the attorney General as well as to Congress reporting on ways to make this agency more effective.

ARENA: But the new proposal was immediately challenged by a former justice inspector general who warned such a move could only make things worse.

MICHAEL BROMWICH, FORMER JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INSPECTOR GENERAL: The creation for separate IG for the FBI, underscores it's separateness and thus, in my judgment, moves in the wrong direction.

ARENA: Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee heard several accounts about how the FBI refused to cooperate on various important investigations. Former Senator John Danforth, who investigated the FBI's actions in Waco pointed to long standing cultural problems.

JOHN DANFORTH, WACO SPECIAL COUNSEL: There's lack of openness and a lack of willingness to say well, we're a bureau that makes mistakes.

ARENA: The hearing comes on the heels of a string of FBI mishaps including the late discovery of documents in the Oklahoma City bombing case, and the revelation one of their own, Robert Hanssen, was allegedly spying for nearly two decades.

The newest embarrassment involves an FBI security analyst arrested last week for allegedly selling classified FBI documents on criminal cases, some involving organized crime.

SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT) JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN: In recent years we've seen case after case where the FBI has fallen short, and sometimes far short.

ARENA: The FBI will remain under scrutiny for some time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

There are several reviews already underway and now, calls for two more. Attorney General John Ashcroft asked for a top to bottom Justice Department review and two key lawmakers introduced legislation calling for an outside blue-ribbon panel to examine the bureau -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Arena in Washington. Thank you very much.

Calls to reform the FBI burdened by bungles. Can the Bureau be fixed? I'll ask former independent counsel Ken Starr and Senator Chuck Grassley.

Also, police have more questions for Congressman Gary Condit in the case of a missing intern. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Attorney General John Ashcroft today called for a sweeping investigation of the FBI to be managed by the Justice Department. In the Senate there was some brutal criticism of the Bureau and a call for a blue ribbon panel to examine its problems. This as director Louis Freeh winds up his tenure with no replacement yet officially named.

Joining me now to discuss the Bureau and its problems, Senator Charles Grassley of the Judiciary Committee and former independent counsel Kenneth Starr. Senator Grassley, you've been very critical of the FBI lately. What's wrong with the FBI?

SEN. CHARLES GRASSLEY (R-IA) JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: I think there's a management culture that puts public relations and headlines ahead of the fundamentals. When they do the fundamentals they do a very good job. And that is seek the truth and let the truth convict. Beyond that I think that there is an attitude within the FBI that the FBI can't do anything wrong. And when -- that's not true of any agency or anybody for that matter.

BLITZER: Judge Starr, as you know, the FBI has always resisted an outside inspector general coming in. And you have supported the FBI, you've defended the FBI including that article in "The Wall Street Journal". Why not let the FBI have some direct oversight?

KEN STARR, INDEPENDENT COUNSEL: Well, it does and in fact Director Freeh, Wolf, as you know, has called for oversight. He has not said, I do not want oversight.

BLITZER: He's resisted an inspector general, though.

STARR: As the Justice Department historically has and there Senator Grassley has strong views. But Senator Grassley's view that the existing inspector general in the Justice Department should have his jurisdiction expanded to include the FBI. That's a better way rather than building up yet another bureaucratic organization within the Bureau. That's not the answer.

BLITZER: Senator Grassley, why should every other agency in Washington, every other part of government have their own inspector generals except the he FBI?

GRASSLEY: Well, the FBI should have an inspector general. Although I think it's probably better without creating a bureaucracy. Let the Department of Justice inspector general do it, but now there's so many hurdles that that inspector general has to go through to get the FBI, unlike any other thing they want to investigate, we ought to remove those hurdles. There should not be any sort of special treatment given to the FBI as opposed to any other government agency, via inspector general.

BLITZER: Judge Starr, in that recent article you wrote in "The Wall Street Journal" you said "the Bureau will do well with a Judge Freeh-like person at the top." But as you know, the criticism of Judge Freeh is he was not a good manager. Look at all the mistakes that were made most recently in the McVeigh case, documents that weren't provided, the Wen Ho Lee investigation, the Robert Hanssen espionage case. Should the president pick someone more management oriented instead of some like let's say, Judge Freeh?

STARR: Well, I have a strong view, Wolf that Judge Freeh has done a wonderful job and there have been some bumps in the road. But we don't talk about, as Judge Freeh said today, in his farewell remarks, we don't talk about all those safe landings, the great job that the Bureau does day in and day out.

And Senator Grassley, today, very admirably praised the thousands of men and women of the FBI. And I would say that praise also should be extended to Judge Freeh for having total integrity in a very very difficult time, and also some great accomplishments on the terrorism front, among others. But also then saying, look, of course we make mistakes. Let's address those mistakes. Give us the tools we need, such as computer technology. One of the reasons we had the snafu was because the lack of computer technology.

Give the FBI the tools and they will do a terrific job. And they're not resisting oversight. I've worked with the Bureau over the years, they are not resisting oversight. In fact Judge Freeh is saying I welcome oversight. We need congressional oversight as well.

BLITZER: You've spoken and so many of your colleagues have of a culture of arrogance that seems to pervade at the FBI. Tell us about what you think that culture is.

GRASSLEY: That the FBI can't do anything wrong. That was recognized by a lot of people on our panel today, people in the Justice Department as well. Beyond that, I think that there's real desire on the part of some to use really high visibility cases to advance their cause. And that's where you get into the public relations over the fundamentals. I think that's a major problem. Also, I think within the agency, we need a person who is a manager, as opposed to law enforcement person, somewhat like had had IRS directors were always tax lawyers. I suggested to Clinton that we ought to have a manager. We got Rossotti in there. I think Rossotti is doing a very good job because he knows management. I think that's what we need heading the FBI.

BLITZER: Judge Starr, a recent CNN poll, CNN/"USA Today" Gallup poll asked this question: Do you have a great deal or a lot of confidence in state police? Listen to these numbers; 63 percent said yes. In local police 59 percent said yes. In the FBI, 38 percent. The FBI has a serious problem out there, public relations problem with the American public.

STARR: Well, it's difficult, Wolf, as you know, with the 24 hour news cycle and with these heralded cases and we sometimes don't talk about the successes. And there are so many successes of the Bureau. But I think what Judge Freeh has been saying and what the Bureau has been saying is, let's bring in oversight, let's have additional oversight. But also, please, again, give us the tools that we need.

I mentioned computer technology. They've been subjected to hiring freezes from time to time.

So I think that we need -- also, there are so many different agencies involved. I think there's a huge issue with respect to the way federal law enforcement is carried in this country. Twenty-nine agencies have jurisdiction over drug enforcement. That's a lot.

BLITZER: Very briefly, Richard Mueller, the U.S. attorney in northern California, we're reporting he's the leading candidate. Is he someone who should be the next FBI director?

I don't know yet. I'm going to take a good look at everybody that they're thinking. I've let the White House know that I'm interested in doing that. The main thing is, we need a manager, a director who's going to take the bull by the horns and challenge this management culture.

BLITZER: Senator Grassley, Judge Starr, always good to have both of you in our program. Thank you very much.

GRASSLEY: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you. And is the Bush administration ready to jump full-scale back into the Middle East conflict? We'll tell you about a new attempt to play a more active role in the search for peace.

And "Consumer Reports" issues an alert regarding this SUV. We'll tell you what the magazine found and what you need to know. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: In other news tonight, U.S. adversary Osama Bin Laden allegedly has produced a videotape recruiting followers into his terrorist organization. On the tape, Bin Laden calls for a new holy war against Israeli and American targets, and claims responsibility for bombing the USS Cole in Yemen last year. There are scenes in the tape that lead U.S. officials to believe it was made within the past few months.

In another sign, the Bush administration is stepping up diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. The White House is sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region. Powell is set to go there next week in hopes of building on the U.S.-brokered truce. Eight people have been killed since it went into effect last week.

Here in Washington, authorities plan to question Congressman Gary Condit of California for a second time over the disappearance of Chandra Levy. Condit's spokesman has acknowledged he and the missing intern were friends, but denies allegations of romantic involvement. The 24-year-old vanished almost two months ago. Her parents are now back here in Washington hoping to move the case forward.

Tonight's "THE POINT WITH GRETA VAN SUSTEREN" will focus on Levy's disappearance. That's at the bottom of the hour.

Mitsubishi Motors is defending the safety of its 2001 Montero Limited. "Consumer Reports" has rated the vehicle as -- quote -- "not acceptable," after tests show it tipped on two wheels during sharp turns as low as 37 miles an hour. Mitsubishi says the vehicle would not have tipped if it weren't for the safety outriggers installed on the tests.

Up next, the "Leading Edge." How vulnerable are American satellites orbiting the Earth? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Tonight on the "Leading Edge": the United States is setting up two Air Force squadrons to defend against possible attacks on commercial satellites. The move reflects a growing importance in using space to defend the nation's security.

After a series of disruptions by anti-globalization protesters, the World Bank is turning to the Internet. The organization will hold its conference in Spain next week online to avoid possible trouble. Protesters have caused havoc during meetings last year.

Please stay with CNN throughout the night. At the top of the hour, Julie Nixon Eisenhower gives Larry King a tour of the Nixon Presidential Library. Up next, Greta Van Susteren. She's standing by to tell us what she has -- Greta?

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, HOST, CNN'S "THE POINT": Wolf, it's been nearly two months since Chandra Levy disappeared here in Washington. She was an intern, of course, and her parents have now arrived back in Washington, D.C. and the investigation continues. We'll spend the entire half hour talking about the missing Chandra Levy -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Greta, sounds good. We'll be watching. Tomorrow night I'll have a special interview with the Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer on Capitol Hill. "THE POINT WITH GRETA VAN SUSTEREN" begins right now.

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