After months of deliberation, the family of Grace Yoo Chan, charged in connection with the death of her son Elliott Chan, has tentatively agreed to a plea deal for a five-year prison sentence.
Prosecutors initially proposed a plea bargain in August, reducing the charge from first-degree murder to second-degree manslaughter. Grace Yoo Chan’s father, Jae Yoo, had previously rejected the offer and maintained a plea of innocence. However, after months of consideration, the family appears ready to accept the deal.
During a hearing at the Bergen County Superior Court in New Jersey on November 20, around 40 members of the local Korean-American community were in attendance.
According to family representative Daehyun Yoo and other attendees, the final sentencing has been postponed to March 25, 2025. While the defense originally aimed for a reduction to third-degree charges, they have accepted the minimum sentence of five years for the current charges.
“This is not a full agreement, but rather a partial one,” said Daehyun Yoo. He explained that Grace Yoo Chan had faced significant difficulties while in custody, including harassment from other inmates. “She said she just wants to go home, no matter what it takes,” he added.
He also noted the mounting legal fees and the challenges they faced due to a misstep by the initial defense team, which hindered their legal strategy. “It’s frustrating and unfair, but our goal is to bring her home as soon as possible. The prosecution’s offer is for her to serve five years, but it’s the only viable option right now.”
One attendee at the hearing remarked, “The plea deal involves the minimum sentence of five years, but under the terms, Grace Yoo Chan could be eligible for parole after serving 43 months.
She has already been in custody for 20 months since her arrest, so if the final sentence is confirmed on March 25, she could be released on parole as early as July 2026—just 20 months from now. The family had to weigh whether to accept this or continue to fight for her innocence, which could take years and cost even more in legal fees.”
Meanwhile, the defense team is reportedly preparing a new strategy to submit an appeal to the judge in February, aiming to further reduce the prison term.
BY MINHYE KANG, YOUNGNAM KIM [kang.minhye@koreadailyny.com]
