Wyoming grad student accused of poisoning a colleague, arrested fleeing to China
A Wyoming microbiology graduate student from China has been arrested on accusations she poisoned the tea of a colleague who had pending patents and with whom she didn’t get along, then tried to flee the country after police questioned her.Aili Wang, 32, was arrested Oct.6 at Los Angeles International Airport, where prosecutors allege she sought to return to China.With her were laptops, electronic storage devices and documents now in the possession of police, who allege Wang was seen on surveillance video rummaging through the desk of the victim who specialized in technology for disease treatment — research similar to work she’d done in China.Wang remained jailed without bail Tuesday in Los Angeles.She allegedly bought a chemical, acrylamide, over eBay, and it was first detected when the alleged victim’s wife and others tested water from the coffee maker he used to brew tea.US officials for years have accused China of stealing intellectual property from American universities.The microbiology professor overseeing both graduate students, Mark Gomelsky, said the accusations left him reeling.
He was uncertain if the victim will fully recover.“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,” Gomelsky told The Associated Press.“That was one of the worst shocks in my professional career.”Wang had no attorney listed in court documents.
The AP tried to reach her via email and LinkedIn messages.The police investigation began after the victim, identified in court documents as “K.T.,” began experiencing symptoms and his wife and others allegedly isolated the chemical in the coffee maker water.The victim and campus police then set up surveillance cameras in the office space he shared with Wang at the university in Laramie.Wang allegedly was recorded Sept.
27 going through the alleged victim’s desk.On Oct.1, she was recorded “taking photos and manipulat...