Aili Wang, a 32-year-old microbiology graduate student from China, was arrested on October 6 at Los Angeles International Airport on accusations of poisoning a colleague's tea. The colleague, who had pending patents and with whom she reportedly had a conflict, began experiencing unexplained symptoms. Prosecutors allege Wang attempted to flee to China after being questioned by police.
Wang was found with laptops, electronic storage devices, and documents that are now in police custody. Surveillance footage reportedly shows her rummaging through the desk of the victim, who specializes in technology for disease treatment, similar to her previous work in China.
Wang allegedly purchased acrylamide, a chemical linked to the poisoning, on eBay. The substance was detected when the victim's wife and others tested the water from the coffee maker he used to brew tea.
Mark Gomelsky, the microbiology professor overseeing both students, expressed shock at the situation, stating, "It’s been disheartening, to say the least, to see that one of your student’s life is in jeopardy and another student may be responsible for that."
Wang is currently jailed without bail and faces a felony aggravated assault and battery charge in Wyoming, which could result in up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Her bond has been raised to $1.5 million cash-only. The investigation began after the victim, referred to as "K.T.," experienced symptoms including extreme tiredness and a strange taste in his tea.
Following a conference in August, he noticed worsening symptoms and, with the help of his wife, tested the coffee maker water, which contained acrylamide. The alleged victim continues to experience symptoms from the poisoning, including difficulty focusing and loss of sensation in his left hand.
Wang had previously failed her dissertation defense and was reportedly envious of her colleague's success in research related to RNA delivery to human cells. The case raises concerns about intellectual property theft, as US officials have accused China of stealing research from American universities.