Suspect indicted on robbery, manslaughter charges in Milton-Freewater restaurant case
Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, March 6, 2024
- A memorial stands Feb. 22, 2024, in front of the Red Tea Garden, 14 N. Columbia St., in Milton-Freewater, for Shu Yi Wu, the owner of the restaurant who died Feb. 19 from injuries she suffered in a robbery.
MILTON-FREEWATER — The suspect in the robbery of the Red Tea Garden restaurant in Milton-Freewater and slaying of its owner now faces formal charges.
According to Oregon court records, a Umatilla County grand jury on Thursday, Feb. 29, indicted Emerald Julia Williams, 39, of Pendleton, on first-degree robbery, a Class A felony, and second-degree manslaughter, a Class B felony.
She has a probable cause hearing March 4 in Umatilla County Circuit Court in Pendleton and remains in the Umatilla County Jail on a $250,000 bond.
The state has accused Williams of stealing money from the restaurant on Feb. 18 and knocking over the restaurant’s owner, Shu Yi Wu, in the parking lot after Wu attempted to stop her.
Wu later died from her injuries.
Pena turned herself into authorities on Feb. 25.
According to court records, Pena has five felony convictions in Oregon, mostly on drug-related charges. Her most recent was for methamphetamine possession in 2016.
