Andrea Yates is a woman who has historically evoked emotions of sympathy and rage within the American people. After suffering postpartum depression (PD) and psychosis, the tortured soul drowned her five children in their family home in Houston, TX. The children ranged in age from 6 months to 7 years old. Her husband, Rusty, stood by her side and felt that if she had been working with a competent physician the horrific event would have never happened.

Yates had tried to kill herself on two separate occasions before she drowned her children — one time with pills, the other with a knife. After these attempts she was sent to a psychiatric hospital where she remained for three weeks and was diagnosed with PD.

The woman’s thoughts would race about her children and she worried how they would turn out. But she started taking two anti-depressants, Wellbutrin and Effexor, and an anti-psychotic, Haldol. Her mood improved and the Yates’ decided to have another child despite written warnings from a physician that her depression would return.

And it did — with a vengeance. Six months after the birth of their last child, Mary, she lost her mind and committed filicide. She believed that Satan was sending her messages and says she killed her kids so that they would go to heaven.

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On July 26, 2006, the jury found that Yates was not guilty by reason of insanity.

Now her doctors are asking that she be allowed to leave the mental hospital where she is currently receiving treatment to attend church for two hours a week.

According to George Parnham, her attorney, “it is a recommendation of the doctors that she be permitted to attend, and of course she wants to. It would be both beneficial and mentally therapeutic for her. She has been accepted into a congregation. It is simply a baby step in the right direction toward acclimation into a community down the road of sorts.”

According to the Chronicle, Parnham also believes that Yates has been ready to rejoin society for years, including getting a job and living on her own and thinks she is “ready for outpatient care.”

We reported earlier that Casey Anthony wants to be baptized and find solace in religion. Apparently the last week has been a time for fallen mothers to find their religious roots.