CA Doctor Poisoned Husband With Drain Cleaner, Authorities Say

IRVINE, CA — A southern California doctor has been accused by her husband of poisoning him with drain cleaner after he hid cameras in their kitchen and captured her pouring the chemical into his drinks, according to multiple reports citing authorities and court documents.

Dermatologist Yue "Emily" Yu, 45, of Irvine, was taken into custody last week after her husband told police she poisoned him, the city of Irvine confirmed in a news release. Yu has not been formally charged and has since been released from jail, Fox News reported, citing the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

According to the husband's attorney, he started having "unusual symptoms" in March and April after first detecting a chemical taste in his drinks. He went to the doctor and was diagnosed with stomach ulcers, gastritis, and inflammation of the esophagus, according to the Orange County Register.

The husband eventually hid cameras in their kitchen. After contacting police, he provided authorities with three videos that appear to show Yu pouring drain cleaner in his tea or lemonade, ABC News reported, citing court documents. The videos were from July 11, 18 and 25.

The husband sustained significant internal injuries but is expected to recover, the city said in a statement.

Yu's defense attorney told ABC News the allegations against his client are "absolutely and unequivocally" false.

The husband has since filed for a restraining order against his wife and on behalf of their two children, claiming longtime verbal, physical, and emotional abuse, according to The New York Post. He also claimed that Yu's mother, Yuojng "Amy" Gu, was abusive toward him and the children. He was granted a temporary restraining order on Aug. 5.

Yu's attorney told Fox News that her husband's allegations were motivated by a recent divorce filing, claiming a child custody case between the couple was also to blame.

Providence Mission Hospital, where Yu saw patients, said in a statement to CBS News that the hospital is cooperating with police, adding the incident was a domestic issue and has not affected patient care.

Anyone with information related to this case should contact Detective Kate Nespeca at knespeca@cityofirvine.org or 949-724-7183.