Authorities revealed Wednesday that a California dermatologist has been indicted on numerous counts of poisoning her husband’s tea with liquid drain cleaner.
According to a news release, Yue “Emily” Yu was indicted on three felony counts of poisoning and one felony count of domestic assault after investigators believe she poured Drano into her husband’s tea, causing stomach ulcers.
According to authorities, her spouse, named as fellow doctor Jack Chen by KABC-TV, first noticed a difference in the flavor of his drink in April 2022.
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Unable to determine the cause of the peculiar taste, prosecutors claim Chen planted cameras in their family’s Irvine, Calif., kitchen, where Yu, 45, was allegedly seen on tape brewing his tea and pouring liquid drain cleaner into it on several times in July, according to the release.
Chen took samples and turned them over to Irvine police, who subsequently turned them over to the FBI. According to authorities, the FBI confirmed that the chemical in the tea was liquid drain cleaner.
A dermatologist in California was arrested after her husband allegedly caught her poisoning him with drano.
“Our homes should be the safest place for us,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer in a statement. “Yet, a licensed medical professional took advantage of her husband’s daily rituals to torment him by systematically dousing his tea with a Drano-like substance with the intent of causing him pain and suffering.”
Chen suffered serious injuries at the time, but was expected to recover, according to Irvine police.
Emily Yu, Irvine Police Arrest Yue “Emily” Yu for Poisoning Her Husband. POLICE DEPARTMENT OF IRVINE
According to the station, he has now filed for divorce and is seeking sole custody of the couple’s two children. Yu was detained in August but released after posting a $30,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court again on April 18.
According to KABC, Yu will plead not guilty to the allegations, citing her defense attorney, Scott Simmons. Simmons did not immediately reply to a request for comment from PEOPLE.
