A Wyoming graduate student from China, Aili Wang, 32, has been arrested for allegedly poisoning a colleague’s tea. The colleague had pending patents and the two reportedly did not get along. Wang was apprehended on October 6 at Los Angeles International Airport as she attempted to leave for China. Authorities have confiscated laptops, electronic devices, and documents that Wang had with her.
Surveillance footage allegedly captured Wang at the victim’s desk. The victim, identified as ‘K.T.’ in court papers, specializes in technology for disease treatment. The police allege that Wang had previously conducted similar research in China.
“It’s been disheartening to see that one of your student’s life is in jeopardy and another student may be responsible,”said Mark Gomelsky, a microbiology professor overseeing both students.
Wang purportedly purchased acrylamide on eBay, which was detected by the alleged victim’s wife. She reportedly tested water from a coffee maker used to brew tea. This discovery initiated the investigation. Amateur sleuthing, including surveillance cameras, helped police build their case. Wang allegedly manipulated notebooks and photographs in the shared office space on record.
Police documents show Wang denied using acrylamide in years. Despite this, she faces felony charges for aggravated assault and battery. She remains jailed without bail in Los Angeles. The court has increased her bond to $1.5 million cash-only.
Intellectual property theft issues persist amidst this case. U.S. officials have long expressed concerns over China stealing research. Gomelsky expressed uncertainty about the victim’s recovery, noting the neurotoxic effects of acrylamide.
Simultaneously, the case mirrors another incident in California. There, a chemical engineer faced unexplained illnesses until catching a colleague, David Xu, poisoning her. Xu received a plea deal with probation for poisoning.