Andrea Yates, who murdered her children, was diagnosed with postpartum depression, had attempted suicide, had shown symptoms of psychosis and delusions, and had been treated repeatedly by mental health professionals. Yet her defense of "not guilty by reason of insanity" failed. Why might this outcome surprise many people?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Many people may assume that someone with a documented history of mental illness and treatment would be a strong candidate for an insanity plea. However, the reality is that the insanity defense is rarely successful in court, with an average success rate of only 15%.

Andrea Yates, Who Murdered Her Children, Was Diagnosed with Postpartum