Home / Crime and Justice / Lawyer's 25-Year Bond: From Andrea Yates Trial to Family
Lawyer's 25-Year Bond: From Andrea Yates Trial to Family
12 Sep
Summary
- Attorney George Parnham defended Andrea Yates in a landmark postpartum psychosis case.
- Parnham views Yates as family, calling her 'like a daughter' after 25 years.
- The Parnhams founded a nonprofit and advocated for mental health awareness.
Attorney George Parnham's defense of Andrea Yates in 2001 marked the beginning of a 25-year commitment. He now considers Yates, who was convicted of drowning her five children, as family.
The Parnhams co-founded the Yates Children's Memorial Fund, advocating for maternal mental health information for new mothers. They also developed resources for attorneys handling similar cases.
George Parnham's personal connection to maternal mental health was influenced by his own childhood experiences with his mother's fluctuating moods.
Initially found guilty, Yates's conviction was overturned due to false testimony about 'Law & Order.' A retrial in 2006 resulted in a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The Andrea Yates case spurred the creation of the Pavilion for Women at Texas Children's Hospital, a leading center for maternal mental health.
As Parnham retired at 83, the couple passed the torch to a new attorney, but their enduring support for Yates continues.
