A new indictment was unsealed Thursday against dermatologist Yue “Emily” Yu, accused of poisoning her husband, Dr. Jack Chen, with Drano in his tea. A judge is set to rule next week on whether prosecutors can proceed with the additional charges.
The new indictment adds three felony counts of attempted poisoning to Yu’s previous charges, which included one felony count of corporal injury and three counts of poisoning. The legal dispute centers on whether a superseding indictment is permissible, with Yu’s attorneys arguing it is barred by law.
Defense lawyers claim the allegations are false and part of a custody dispute. They argue that Drano is so toxic that ingestion would have caused immediate harm, and that Chen’s symptoms—stomach ulcers, gastritis, and esophagitis—are more consistent with acid reflux. The defense also claims Chen instructed Yu to use Drano to address an ant problem and then staged the poisoning claim with spy cameras.
Judge Patrick Donahue will decide Tuesday whether prosecutors may move forward with the new charges. Experts for the defense are expected to testify that it would have been impossible for anyone to consume the alleged Drano-laced drinks without immediate, severe reaction.
Yu previously faced trial over the alleged poisoning, and the case has drawn attention due to its unusual circumstances involving medical evidence and allegations of parental abuse.
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