Andrea Yates 2026 Update: Why the Texas Mother Continues to Waive Her Release Hearings
Since 2007, Andrea Yates has resided at the Kerrville State Hospital, a low security mental health facility in Texas. Now 61 years old, she lives a quiet and reclusive life focused on her ongoing psychiatric treatment. Unlike a traditional prison, the facility has no armed guards or bars, and Yates spends much of her time engaged in therapeutic activities. Her attorney, George Parnham, remains in regular contact and reports that she has become a gentle soul who is well liked by the staff.
Choosing to Remain Institutionalized
Under Texas law, Yates is entitled to an annual competency review to determine if she is fit to be released into society. However, for nearly two decades, she has voluntarily waived her right to these hearings every single year, including her most recent opportunity in 2025. Legal experts and those close to her suggest that she feels safest within the facility, where she can continue to manage her severe mental health condition. She reportedly has no desire to return to the outside world, preferring the structured environment of the hospital.
Grief and Anonymous Acts of Charity
Despite the passage of 25 years, Yates remains deeply connected to the memory of her five children: Noah, John, Paul, Luke, and Mary. She reportedly watches home videos of them frequently and grieves for them every day according to her legal team. To cope with her loss, she creates various crafts, such as greeting cards and aprons, which are sold anonymously at local craft shows. The proceeds from these sales are donated to the Yates Children Memorial Fund, which helps raise awareness for postpartum depression and psychosis.
Recent Media and Rusty Yates Update
The case returned to the spotlight on January 6, 2026, with the release of the docuseries The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story. The series explores the religious influences and apocalyptic teachings that may have exacerbated her psychosis leading up to the events of 2001. Her former husband, Rusty Yates, who divorced her in 2005, continues to speak with her occasionally. He has publicly stated that he forgives her and blames her medical treatment and illness rather than her character for the tragedy.