After Andrea Yates was arrested for drowning her five children to death, it was revealed that she was a member of an alleged cult led by an extreme religious leader. Michal Woroniecki.
Although Woroniecki has denied claims that his group was a cult, he has been open about sharing his Christian values with his followers, who included Andrea and her then-husband. Russell “Rusty” Yates.
After the premiere of Investigative Discovery’s The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Storyviewers have been left wondering what religion Andrea was at the time of the murders. Wonder no more.
What religion was Andrea Yates?
After Andrea and Rusty married in 1993, she quit her job as a nurse to become a full-time mother and focus on the religious practice that had become important to her family’s life, she says. time.
Before his marriage, Rusty followed the teachings of the non-denominational Christian leader Woroniecki. At that time, Woroniecki traveled to college campuses and large events to spread his teachings and gain new followers.
In The cult behind the killerformer followers of Woroniecki referred to themselves as “survivors” and claimed that he exercised control through sermons, handwritten letters and cassette tapes to present himself as a spiritual authority.
Rusty confirmed in the docuseries that he and Andrea were in regular contact with Woroniecki. However, he did not share specific examples of Woroniecki’s religious teachings.
Who is Moses Storm?
Storm of Moses is Woroniecki’s nephew and one of his former followers who appeared in The cult behind the killer. In the docuseries, Storm called out the media coverage for not emphasizing Woroniecki’s alleged involvement in Andrea’s murders.
“When I look at news coverage and documentaries about Andrea Yates, it just doesn’t do it for me,” she said. “They’re Missing a Big Part of History: Michael Woroniecki.”
Storm said Woroniecki acted as a spiritual teacher to both his family and the Yates. “A big part of his teachings was the imminent doomsday. God would end the world in a matter of 46 minutes right now. It was so intense,” he said.
Amanda Riley may be out of sight and serving time, but the cancer scammer is being talked about more than ever. After requesting more than $100,000 to cover the costs of cancer she didn’t have, the cheerful California Christian mother, now 39, was sentenced in 2021 and has since gained national infamy, first with the successful (…)
“He said there would be a storm that would drive my mother to her knees and pray, ‘God, please save us, save our children.’ It gave me nightmares,” Storm recalled of Woroniecki. “My older sister would have these visions and start beating her body just to stop herself.”
Michael Woroniecki denied involvement in the Andrea Yates murders
After Andrea arrested for killing their five children in 2001, many people speculated that Woroniecki was somehow involved in the decision.
Woroniecki publicly denied any involvement in the murders during a 2002 appearance at Good morning America.
However, he said he was Andrea and Rusty’s spiritual leader, adding that he “shared Jesus with them.”
“I hold him responsible (for the drownings), but I also hold Andrea responsible. God knows what we shared with these people,” Woroniecki added.
Andrea Yates pleaded guilty to killing her children
Andrea was initially convicted of capital murder in 2002. She was later sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.
However, a major breakthrough in the case came when the verdict was overturned on appeal after it was revealed that the forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz he gave false testimony during the trial.
The case was dropped in 2006 and a Texas jury found Yates not guilty by reason of insanity.