The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story
Investigation Discovery Ended Crime
When Andrea Yates drowned her five children in the family bathtub one June morning in 2001, the world was left shocked – what could make a young mother do something like that to her own children? In the wake of her confession, it was established Yates was suffering from postpartum depression and psychosis. But while understanding of her mental illness helped illuminate Andrea's struggle prior to the incident, now 25 years later, ID unravels the deeply tangled layers in which a cult can influence vulnerable individuals through manipulation and control by offering unprecedented insight into Michael Woroniecki, a rogue street preacher turned cult leader, and his connection to Andrea Yates.
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Investigation Discovery
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Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
3 episodes
E01
Indoctrination
Wed, Jan 7 2026 1:00 AM GMT+0000
After Andrea Yates' horrifying act, her dark preoccupation emerges a secretive cult, twisted teachings, and followers drawn into a growing web of control.
E02
The Horror Within
Wed, Jan 7 2026 2:00 AM GMT+0000
Woroniecki seemingly traps his followers in an isolation cocoon. His teachings appear to twist salvation into submission until Andrea Yates commits a horrific act that stuns a nation.
E03
Revelation
Wed, Jan 7 2026 3:00 AM GMT+0000
Andrea Yates faces two trials in the aftermath of the drownings, exposing the preacher's lingering influence. As Woroniecki deflects blame onto Rusty, a juror quietly reveals that his teachings shaped the verdict, raising questions of accountability.