Calif. dermatologist indicted after allegedly poisoning her husband’s tea with drain cleaner

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (TCD) -- A 45-year-old dermatologist accused of poisoning her husband was indicted this week.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Yue "Emily" Yu’s husband first became suspicious in April 2022 after noticing "a strange taste to the tea he drinks every day." The taste continued, so the victim reportedly installed cameras throughout the kitchen to capture possible evidence.

The District Attorney’s Office said in July 2022, the surveillance cameras allegedly caught Yu "pouring a substance out of a bottle of liquid drain cleaner into her husband’s tea that was left on the counter." The victim reportedly brought in some of the tea to the Irvine Police Department, which the FBI later confirmed to be consistent with liquid drain cleaner.

Yu was arrested Aug. 4 and released the next day after posting a $30,000 bond.

The victim suffered significant internal injuries as a result of the alleged poisoning.

On Wednesday, April 5, the District Attorney’s Office announced Yu was indicted by a grand jury on three felony counts of poisoning and one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury. If convicted on all charges, she faces a maximum prison sentence of eight years and eight months. Yu is set to be arraigned April 18.

Yu is reportedly required to self-report to the Medical Board of California, and they will decide whether she can continue to practice medicine.

In a statement, 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."

Spitzer continued, "Thank you to the Irvine Police Department for its diligence in thoroughly investigating this case and to Deputy District Attorney Diana King for her conscientious legal review that allowed the case to be successfully presented to the grand jury for an indictment."

In a statement obtained by KTLA-TV, One of Yu’s attorneys said the victim exaggerated what happened ahead of divorce proceedings.

The attorney reportedly 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."

Yu and her husband have two children together. Prior to the alleged poisoning, a domestic violence restraining order was filed against Yu. Both Yu and Yu’s mother had allegedly physically, verbally, and emotionally abused the children.

MORE:

• Mission Viejo Dermatologist Indicted by Orange County Grand Jury for Poisoning her Husband with Liquid Drain Cleaner, Domestic Battery — Orange County District Attorney’s Office
• California dermatologist allegedly caught on camera poisoning her husband of 10 years, 8/10/2022 — TCD
• Irvine dermatologist indicted for allegedly poisoning her husband with drain cleaner — KTLA