Seattle doctor pleads guilty to murdering his partner, toddler

A Seattle doctor pleaded guilty to murdering his partner and their 2 1/2-year-old son.  The stabbing deaths were discovered in August 2011.
 
Dr. Louis Chen pleaded guilty to amended charges on Thursday morning. Instead of aggravated murder he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for killing his toddler, Cooper Chen. He also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for fatally stabbing his partner, Eric Cooper.

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Chen was hired by Virginia Mason Medical Center in August 2011. When he didn't show up for orientation, the hospital sent an employee to his apartment. Chen and his partner lived on the 17the floor of the "M Street" apartments on First Hill.

Police say Chen was found by the door covered in blood. His son was found dead in a bathtub, his throat slit, according to investigators. Eric Cooper was stabbed more than 100 times. When asked who did this, police say Chen answered, "I did."  Investigators found five knives in the penthouse apartment.

Chen's trial was scheduled to begin in April. Court documents filed by the defense last fall showed they were considering a defense that blames cough medicine for triggering the violent killings, claiming the drug dextromethorphan can cause psychosis in high doses.

Instead of going to trial, both sides reached a  plea agreement.

For the prosecution to prove aggravated murder, they need to convince a jury that the murder of Eric Cooper was premeditated and that both murders were part of a common scheme or plan.

Prosecutor Don Raz told the judge, "The state believes due to the risks associated with the proof of those two topics that it was appropriate to amend the information. And we do so believing the defendant will enter a plea of guilty to those amended charges."

Minutes later, Chen answered "guilty" to both counts.

The guilty plea was motivated by the length of time Chen, 43,  could spend behind bars. The only sentence for aggravated first-degree murder is life. He was facing two consecutive life sentences. With the amended changes, the sentencing range is 34 1/4-49 years in prison. The state will ask for 49 years.

Chen's defense team says he suffers from mental illness and will have experts testify during his sentencing. They will ask for an exceptional sentence downward and hope for a sentence closer to 24 years.

"We maintain, as we always have, there's substantial evidence that he had a significant mental illness at the time of the event and he's continued to have concerns regarding mental illness," said Todd Maybrown, defense attorney.

The sentencing is postponed until at least June. Chen waived his right to a speedy sentencing to allow his attorneys to get the experts ready and so relatives from Taiwan can attend.

Cox Media Group