Rusty and Andrea Yates are getting divorced.
In his divorce petition, Rusty Yates, 39, says he and his wife of 11 years ceased to live together as husband and wife on or about June 20, 2001 — the day Andrea Yates called police and told arriving officers she had drowned her children.
The couple was married April 17, 1993.
[…]
Rusty Yates, who regularly visits his wife at the Skyview prison psychiatric unit near Rusk, says the couple will enter into an agreement to divide their assets, the petition filed by Houston attorney David Salinsky says. If an agreement cannot be reached, Yates asks that the court divide their assets.
The family’s Clear Lake-area home where the children were drowned was recently sold.
Salinsky was not in his office late Monday afternoon for comment. Rusty Yates also could not be reached at his Johnson Space Center office and did not return a message left on his cell phone.
George Parnham, Andrea Yates’ defense attorney, said he was sure she was aware of the divorce request.
“Andrea knew this was coming. She had been aware of it for some time. I don’t think Rusty would pull this on her unexpectedly. And there’s no questioning the fact that he still cares deeply for Andrea,” said Parnham, who is handling Yates’ criminal appeal.
[…]
Andrea Yates was returned to her prison unit last week after a nine-day stay at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She was taken to the prison hospital unit after she refused to eat and drink and was in “an acute confusional state” both mentally and physically.
She was fed intravenously while hospitalized.
Parnham said he could not say if Yates’ recent hospitalization was a result of her marriage ending.
“I just hope the whole process causes her as little anguish as possible,” he said.
I can’t quite bring myself to make any smartalec remarks about this. I’ve long since ceased finding anything humorous in this sad, sad affair.
One thing I do want to know: Why did the Chronicle think this was front-page, above-the-fold news? Was there nothing more important happening yesterday?
Some humor…
I was at DailyKos when I saw the word “Divorce” in my feedbox.
My instant response was “Kuff! Kuff’s wife! Nooooooooooo!” in the style of action hero preparing to take a bullet for his partner who is about to retire.
Then I clicked over here, and found something equally sad.
But I’m glad that marriage wise things are going smoothly in kuffner land (touch wood).
Heh. Sorry about that. And thanks for the good wishes. 🙂
To answer your question, I think the Chron put it page one above the fold because it is so damn INTERESTING!