Wyoming Grad Student Arrested for Allegedly Poisoning Colleague, Attempting to Flee
Aili Wang, 32, is accused of poisoning a fellow student's tea and was apprehended at Los Angeles International Airport while attempting to leave the U.S.
A microbiology graduate student from China has been arrested in Wyoming on suspicion of poisoning a fellow student's tea. Aili Wang, 32, was taken into custody on Oct. 6 at Los Angeles International Airport, where authorities allege she was attempting to flee the country.
Prosecutors stated that Wang did not get along with the alleged victim, whose research was similar to Wang's prior work in China and who had pending patents. According to court documents, Wang purchased the chemical acrylamide via eBay. The chemical was reportedly detected after the victim's wife and others tested water from the coffee maker the victim used to brew tea.
Surveillance video captured Wang rummaging through the desk of the alleged victim, according to police. Laptops, electronic storage devices, and documents were seized by authorities.
Wang is being held without bail in Los Angeles. U.S. officials have previously accused China of intellectual property theft from American universities.
Wang did not have an attorney listed in court documents. Attempts to reach her via email and LinkedIn messages were unsuccessful.