Yue ‘Emily’ Yu: Dermatologist accused of poisoning husband with drain cleaner indicted
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA: A 45-year-old dermatologist, Yue ‘Emily’ Yu, who allegedly poisoned her husband over several weeks with liquid drain cleaner Drano last year in 2022, got indicted on Wednesday, April 5. A grand jury indicted her on three counts of poisoning and one count of domestic battery with corporal injury.
In April 2022, Yu's husband, Dr Jack Chen, a radiologist, started noticing a different taste in his tea. He then installed cameras through which he caught her in the act. The videos on July 11, July 18, and July 25, 2022, captured his wife pouring a liquid drain cleaner into his tea. Chen collected the samples of the tea and handed them over to the Irvine Police Department, reports CBS News. Chen suffered from stomach ulcers as a result of the alleged poisoning.
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'Husband misrepresented to get divorce'
Chen filed for divorce prior to the incident after 10 years of marriage and also requested to keep Yu away from their two elementary-age children, reports New York Post. He accused Yu and his mother-in-law in August 2022 of mistreatmenting him and the two children. He said, “As early as two-years-old Emily and Amy were verbally and then physically abusive to which intensified as they grew older. They are both verbally and physically abusive to me.” However, in a statement, Scott Simmons, Yue Yu's attorney, said his client’s husband misrepresented to get divorce. He said, “If you thought you were being poisoned, would you go to a divorce attorney before going to the hospital or police? Drano is not a covert poisoning agent. It has a strong smell and taste and is highly caustic. Dr Yu is looking forward to her day in court when the truth will finally come out,” stated KTLA 5.
Yue ‘Emily’ Yu to be arraigned on April 18
Yu was arrested in August 2022 but was later released on a $30,000 bond. However, she got indicted on April 5. Talking about this, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said, “Our homes should be where we feel the safest. Yet, a licensed medical professional capitalized on her husband’s daily rituals to torment her husband by systematically plying his tea with a Drano-like substance intending to cause him pain and suffering.”
While Chen's attorney Steve Hittleman exclusively informed that Chen now has full custody of the two children, Yue Yu has scheduled visitation rights. Hittleman said, "Making sure that there’s a chance for justice to be served. This is the next step in resolving this horrible turn of events. This is tragic on a number of levels.” On the other hand, Yu is set to be arraigned on April 18 and faces more than eight years in prison.
