Judge dismisses Drano poisoning case against Irvine doctor as legal battle continues

A California dermatologist previously accused of poisoning her husband’s tea with drain cleaner has had her criminal case dismissed, though prosecutors say the charges will be refiled.

Yue “Emily” Yu case, an Irvine-based physician, was arrested in 2022 after her husband, Jack Chen, alleged he caught her on camera pouring Drano into his tea on multiple occasions.

Authorities later charged her with three felony counts of poisoning and one felony count of domestic battery, according to a 2023 release.

On Friday, May 29, an Orange County judge dismissed the indictment after finding that the Orange County District Attorney’s Office had withheld evidence that could have potentially cleared the defendant, according to multiple reports.

Yu’s defense team welcomed the ruling, saying she was “relieved” by the dismissal and insisting the indictment was fundamentally flawed from the outset.

“From the outset, Emily has maintained that she did nothing wrong and has placed her faith in a fair and impartial legal process,” her attorney Scott Simmons said.

He added that the prolonged legal battle has taken a personal toll on Yu, who has not practiced medicine since her arrest and has been separated from her children during portions of the proceedings.

“She really wants to move on with her life,” Simmons said, noting that the case has significantly impacted her professional and family life.

However, prosecutors pushed back strongly against the dismissal. A spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office confirmed plans to refile the case, saying they remain confident in the evidence.

“We believe in the strength of the evidence in this case, and in the professional conduct of our prosecutors,” said spokeswoman Kimberly Edds.

“We will continue to litigate this in a court of law as we pursue justice for an individual who was being methodically poisoned by his wife, a licensed medical professional whose intent was to inflict pain on him.”

According to investigators, Chen installed surveillance cameras inside the couple’s home after noticing changes in the taste of his drink and experiencing ongoing illness.

Police allege he captured video footage of Yu appearing to tamper with his tea, which he later turned over as evidence.

Chen has since filed for divorce and sought full custody of the couple’s children, also alleging a pattern of verbal and physical abuse.

Yu’s legal team has denied all allegations, previously stating that the claims were being used strategically in divorce proceedings.

The case remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare to refile charges.