Chef David Viens convicted of killing, cooking wife

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

David Viens

/ Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

(CBS) LOS ANGELES - A jury has found chef David Viens guilty of murdering his wife after he told police he cooked her body for four days in boiling water to get rid of the evidence.

Pictures: Calif. chef accused of cooking his wife's corpse

The jury reached its verdict Thursday in the trial of 49-year-old David Viens.

Viens had pleaded not guilty to murdering his 39-year-old wife, Dawn, in late 2009. Her body has never been found.

In a recorded interrogation presented by prosecutors during the trial, Viens can be heard saying he cooked her body for four days.

The chef spoke to authorities from a hospital bed in March 2011 after leaping off an 80-foot cliff in Rancho Palos Verdes. Authorities say he jumped after learning he was a suspect in her disappearance.

Complete coverage of David Viens on Crimesider

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LA chef found guilty in "wife-cooking" case

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by gynse September 28, 2012 1:18 PM EDT: what a guy,, wonder how long they were married,, she's quite a looker too,, well obviously she was too much woman for he so he "ate her" literally.. tenderized her for 4 days.. wow!! made a gourmet meal out of her.. only a sick mind could come up with this; Reply to this comment


by Swift29 September 27, 2012 6:05 PM EDT: Sounds like cases I've seen before, of highly driven A personalities that can't deal w/pressure so they finally go ragin'. Ah, southern Cal.; Reply to this comment


by Jhihmoac September 27, 2012 4:42 PM EDT: One descriptive - "Ecccccch!"; Reply to this comment


by SandmanUSMC September 27, 2012 3:56 PM EDT: What a twisted man. This story puts a whole new perspective on what psychopath without a conscience is capable of.; Reply to this comment

by rjakiel73 September 27, 2012 3:40 PM EDT

No body so how can there be a conviction. Even if he was heard saying something about it unless there is physical evidence to tie him to the crime he should be free. There was more evidence in the O.J. and Casey Anthony trials and they walked. Sadly this is how a busted justice system works.

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by ohno21212 September 27, 2012 4:05 PM EDT: Please tell me you are not implying that murderers should get amnesty for their crimes if they can just dispose of the body.