Louis Chen has been sentenced to 49 years in jail for the murders of his partner Eric Cooper and toddler son Cooper Chen inside a First Hill condo five years ago this August, court records show.
Earlier this year, the 43-year-old doctor pleaded guilty to the August 11, 2011 stabbings.
The plea agreement headed off a cough syrup defense being planned by Chen’s attorneys. Prosecutors said they would not seek the death penalty for Chen who had faced life in prison for the murders if convicted. In 2011, the prosecution requested more time to prepare for the case in order to complete a reconstruction of the bloody murder scene. CHS detailed SPD’s account of the brutal murders here in which Chen is alleged to have stabbed his partner more than 100 times and stabbed his child to death.
In a letter to the court, one of Eric Cooper’s parents wrote:
Chen faced between 34 to 49 years in prison, according to the King County Prosecutor.
Will he be eligible for parole? (hope not!).
Washington State abolished parole in 1984. So no, he won’t be eligible for parole. Though, much like the Federal government who also abolished parole, he may be eligible for early release after serving a certain portion of his sentence. That percentage is pretty high for crimes against people though, so I think this dude will probably die in prison.
Death would have been a better sentence.