6 Biggest Bombshells from The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story By Caroline Blair

Andrea Yates made national headlines when she confessed to drowning her five children on June 20, 2001.

However, the docuseries The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story examines the story from a new point of view and introduces the possibility that she acted out of religious extremism because of the teachings of preacher Michael Woroniecki. The preacher has previously said he should not be blamed for Andrea’s actions. 

The three-part Investigation Discovery docuseries, which premiered on HBO Max on Jan. 6, included interviews from two of Woroniecki’s former followers, as well as Andrea’s ex-husband, Russell “Rusty” Yates. In the doc, Rusty recalled meeting Woroniecki and introducing him to Andrea, but he says he now regrets ever getting Andrea involved.

Both Woroniecki and his wife, Rachel, sent letters to Andrea over the years — even after he had stopped contacting the preacher. Woroniecki has vehemently denied ever influencing Andrea to kill her five children.

“For too long, Michael Woroniecki’s role in these events has remained in the shadows,” co-director and producer Julian B. Hobbs told the Houston Chronicle in January 2026. “Our documentary has uncovered new facts relating to the critical role of Woroniecki throughout the Yates marriage.”

Here are the biggest bombshells from The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story.