The California dermatologist accused of poisoning her estranged husband with drain-clearing chemicals made the cocktail to kill ants, according to her lawyer.
Last week, a grand jury indicted Dr. Yue “Emily” Yu, 45, of Irvine, on three counts of felony poisoning and one count of domestic battery.
California court legal proceedings
Dr. Jack Chen, the 53-year-old husband of Yu, filed for an order of protection in the summer after claiming he sustained internal injuries and installing surveillance cameras in their kitchen that allegedly captured her spiking his lemonade.
Following a court appearance on Tuesday, her attorney, David Dworakowski, told reporters that Yu was attempting to eliminate an ant infestation at the couple’s residence.
Dworakowski explained, While prosecutors portray this video of Emily as smoking gun evidence, the reality is that she was attempting to lure the ants into the glass so they would drown. Wednesday, he did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
According to Chen’s court filings, Yu was caught on camera spiking his drinks with Drano, a brand-name chemical drain cleaner that the EPA and FDA both consider very dangerous if ingested, inhaled, or in contact with the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.
Marriage betrayal
Chen installed the cameras after becoming suspicious in March and April of 2012 when he detected a chemical taste in his lemonade and was diagnosed with ulcers, gastritis, and esophagitis, according to the filing.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Yu faces a maximum prison sentence of eight years and eight months if convicted of all charges.
Next Tuesday in Santa Ana, she is scheduled to be arraigned.
Prosecutors claim that the state board will also review Yu’s medical license, and she could lose it.
Prosecutors claim Chen’s wife tampered with his drinks three times in July, as seen on video he recorded. He gave the sample to the Irvine police, who then gave it to the FBI. According to the prosecution, a laboratory test found drain cleaner.
DA Attorney Todd Spitzer released a statement saying, “Our homes should be the safest place for us.” He went on to say that a licensed medical professional took advantage of her husband’s daily rituals to torment him by dousing his tea with a Drano-like substance.
