4. Andrea Yates: In June 2001, Yates methodically drowned her five children. It was a tragic culmination in a life marred by episodes of depression, psychosis and postpartum depression. Yates suffered from depression as a teen and was bulimic. After marriage and declaring she and her husband wanted “as many children as God will allow,” Yates began a downward spiral of mental illness, with multiple hospitalizations and psychotherapy medications. Warned not to have another child for fear of inducing another psychotic episode, Yates gave birth to her 5th child, resulting in severe postpartum depression and near catatonic episodes. Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity and will live the rest of her life in a mental hospital.
