Remembering Noah, John, Paul, Luke and Mary — The Five Yates Children, 25 Years After the Tragedy

In June 2001, Andrea Yates drowned her five children — Noah, John, Paul, Luke and Mary — in the bathtub of the family home in suburban Houston. The killings, Andrea's subsequent trials, and the role of severe maternal mental illness in the case have continued to prompt public discussion about postpartum psychosis, criminal responsibility, and mental-health care.

Andrea and Rusty Yates married in the early 1990s and welcomed five children between 1994 and 2001. Andrea was initially convicted of capital murder but her conviction was later set aside when a court found her not guilty by reason of insanity. Testimony during the 2002 trial included a jail psychiatrist's statement that Andrea believed she was evil and thought she was fulfilling a prophecy when she killed the children.

Medical records and testimony presented during the legal proceedings documented prior diagnoses of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis — conditions that can cause hallucinations and delusions. After a severe episode described as a 'nervous breakdown' following the birth of son Luke in 1999, doctors reportedly advised against having more children; nevertheless, the couple later had their youngest child, Mary.

Rusty Yates, Memorials and a Documentary

Rusty Yates maintains an online memorial remembering his children and, in the January 2026 HBO Max documentary The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story, reflected on Andrea's role as a mother, saying it had been her 'favorite role.' On the memorial site he imagines the ordinary lives the children might have led — going to school, working and starting families of their own.

Profiles Of The Children

Noah Jacob (Born Feb. 26, 1994)

Noah, the oldest, was described on his memorial bio as 'born curious.' He enjoyed swimming, beading and drawing rainbows and butterflies. As he grew, Noah liked building things — once creating a house from popsicle sticks — and playing basketball with his father. Rusty wrote that Noah could have pursued many paths, from medicine to the arts.

John Samuel (Born Dec. 15, 1995)

John arrived a week late and was affectionately described as 'a little grumpy.' He loved trucks, diving in the pool and playing T-ball, and he looked up to his older brother Noah. John and Noah were homeschooled by Andrea, and Rusty said he might have become a football linebacker or a construction foreman.

Paul Abraham (Born Sept. 13, 1997)

Paul — nicknamed Bull Moose, Tool Man, Rocket Man and Trash Man — loved dancing, pretending to be a fireman and watching rockets on the NASA channel. Rusty remembered Paul as kind and nurturing, often calling him 'Perfect Paul.'

Luke (Fourth Child; Born 1998)

Luke spent his days playing with his brothers and helping in the garden. Described as determined and fearless (except when it came to thunder), Rusty and Andrea said they would always wonder what Luke might have become, believing he could have done almost anything. Luke was two years old at the time of his death.

Mary (Youngest; Born 2000)

Mary was six months old when she died. Rusty wrote that she loved being with her older brothers, who doted on her and often treated her like a little princess during outings. The family imagined she might have grown into a tomboy raised alongside four older brothers.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, or thoughts of harming yourself or others, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 support.

Note: This article treats a deeply tragic event with factual reporting and sensitivity to the victims and those affected by maternal mental illness.