Texas prosecutors are reportedly considering whether to file child endangerment charges against Mr Rusty Yates, whose wife was sentenced to life in prison for drowning their five children while she was in a psychotic state.
Harris County District Attorney Mr Chuck Rosenthal said he assigned a prosecutor to the case after receiving numerous e-mails suggesting Mr Rusty Yates shared culpability for the crime, according to television stations KTRK, an ABC-TV affiliate, and KHOU, a CBS-TV affiliate.
Andrea Yates (37) was sentenced to life in prison for drowning the children in the family bathtub on June 20th in what she said was an attempt to save them from the devil. The jury in her month-long trial rejected her plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The mother and siblings of Andrea Yates have suggested that Rusty Yates was selfish and controlling and drove his wife to her insane act. In post-trial interviews, they supported the idea of possible charges against him.
A doctor testified during Andrea Yates' trial Rusty Yates was warned that if his wife became pregnant with a fifth child she could sink into a severe postpartum depression. After an earlier pregnancy, she attempted suicide.
Mr Yates, a 37-year-old NASA engineer, blamed incompetent doctors and health insurance limitations for the crime, saying they did not treat his wife's condition.
Under Texas law, the charge of child endangerment requires that someone intentionally and knowingly place children in danger. It carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail.