As expected, Dr. Louis Chen was charged with two counts of aggravated murder Tuesday in last week’s First Hill apartment killings. We have embedded the document in this post that was submitted to the court by the King County Prosecutor’s office. It details the evidence Seattle Police gathered at the bloody crime scene on the 17th floor of the M Street apartments last Thursday morning including the reported confession of Chen and reveals the brutality by which Eric Cooper was stabbed more than 100 times and the couple’s young son Cooper Chen was killed with knife wounds to his neck.
According to online records, Dr. Chen was booked into jail this morning on the charges and will be held with no bail.
Here is a portion of the statement sent out by the county prosecutor Tuesday morning. The charging document including details from SPD is below.
The defendant is charged with two counts of Aggravated Murder in the First Degree, a charge that carries a sentence of either life in prison without release or the death penalty. Under Washington State law, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg will have 30 days from the time of arraignment to decide whether to file a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. After the defendant is released from the hospital, he will be booked into the King County Jail and held without bail. Arraignment is scheduled for August 29 at 8:30 a.m. at the King County Courthouse, courtroom 1201.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Times Tuesday revealed details of Chen's relationship with his partner Eric Cooper and the true story behind their young son, Cooper Chen:
While Chen was working as an attending physician at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis, they began the long process of having a child through surrogacy, according to several friends of the couple.
Their child was not adopted from outside the country, as originally reported, but conceived with Chen's sperm and the egg of an anonymous Taiwanese woman, and carried to term by a surrogate mother from Oregon, the friends said. When the child was born nearly three years ago, he was adopted by Eric Cooper and named Cooper Chen.
"They loved that baby. They adored him," said a friend who had gone to medical school with Chen and is now a physician in Massachusetts. "It was one thing they always agreed on, and it was really very sweet." more...
Stuff like this does not happen here on the hill… Wow… I am shocked…
How does someone do this to the people they supposedly love? To take these two precious people away from their families.
And over a 100? I’m so angry and saddened by this.
Sadly, it does…remember the rave-house murders from several years ago? Nowhere is immune, unfortunately.
Not just “over 100” – “WELL over 100.” Fuck. What the hell happened to cause this guy to snap SO HARD?
What a sad, disturbing story.
Following this closely – these past days,my own sense of things made me think this was going to be be bad, but, now that murder scene facts emerge, it is simply horrible.
Stabbing is up close and personal. Chen had wounds, some of those are likely from strugggle. His partner was younger, fit.
The time line is not clear, were they killed just before the cops arrived or many hours earlier. Because of elevator key logs, very secure place, no coming or going for three days. That is almost unbelievable. Great weather, kids needs some play, ice cream, walks, go get some food, a movie – three days. Mystery here. Cooper loved his namesake, were the two of them imprisoned by Chen after talks of permanent separation?
Drugs and their role will be interesting. Chen was groggy, early reports hinted at taking pills to die. Doctors have the easy way to anything, any drug. Did he drug the kid and his husband? Did drugs he took combine against him and fuel the rage?
Dan Satterberg is on the spot, a cool head, one of my political favorites. But if he wants to hang this guy, the public will approve, even in Seattle.
I need a drink, double straight Jameson. And some fish and chips from Ivar’s on the water, seagulls re assure. My world is off kilter after examining the facts of this unmitigated diabolic horror.
Stuff like this DOES happen. Maybe not to the violent extent of this incident, but domestic violence is something that’s often hidden from view and can go on without even close friends knowing that a relationship dynamic is severely amiss.
I realized that we don’t know much yet of their personal history together. But I hope this reminds people that partner abuse is a real problem, it exists everywhere (amongst people of all sexual identities and income brackets), and it doesn’t just happen to other people in other places. Almost half of Seattle’s homicides in 2010 were due to domestic violence, and the most dangerous time for an abused partner is when they announce their intention to leave a relationship, or are in the process of leaving one.
Seattle Blonde,
It is a good reminder. And another reminder, women CAN abuse men. That is another one that is forgotten.
…how does a batshit crazy person become an attending for the VA?
This is a horrific crime and goes to show you that just because someone is highly educated and “respected” doesn’t mean that they are incapable of extreme evil. I feel very sorry for the untimely and horrific death of Eric Cooper, but my sadness is 10 fold for that little tot. Unbelievable to slit the throat of your OWN child.
Exactly. You never know what goes on in someone’s home and relationships and so-called normal people are capable of horrendous acts. I hate to bring this up, but remember OJ Simpson? An All-American sports hero who committed a similar crime. The monsters among us. The part about the son is unfathomable. Very sad and horrific on all accounts.