Wyoming grad student arrested at LAX for allegedly poisoning colleague

Aili Wang, a 32-year-old microbiology graduate student from China, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Oct. 6. Prosecutors allege that Wang poisoned the tea of a fellow University of Wyoming graduate student and attempted to flee the country to China after police began investigating the incident.

Allegations of Poisoning and Surveillance

According to a University of Wyoming campus police officer’s affidavit, the investigation began after the victim, identified in court documents as “KT,” experienced extreme tiredness, inability to sleep, and other unexplained symptoms following a conference in August. The victim also noticed a strange taste in tea brewed with a small coffee maker in his office, which disappeared when the device was cleaned.

The victim’s wife and others tested water from the coffee maker and identified acrylamide, a chemical used in microbiology research. A chemistry professor, Tak Sumaya, stated that acrylamide is “not something you would find in that kind of quantity anywhere.”

Surveillance cameras installed in the shared office allegedly captured Wang on Sept. 27 rummaging through the victim’s desk. On Oct. 1, footage allegedly showed Wang “taking photos and manipulating notebooks” on the desk and rinsing the victim’s mug with liquid from her own mug. Police allege Wang purchased acrylamide twice via eBay during the summer and later requested the deletion of her account.

Motive and Intellectual Property Concerns

Prosecutors allege that Wang and the victim, who did not share research areas, did not get along. The affidavit states that the victim’s federally funded, patent-pending research involved “new technology for cancer, neurological and genetic disease treatment.” Wang “was reportedly working on similar research in China before coming to the US,” according to the affidavit.

Mark Gomelsky, the microbiology professor overseeing both students, told the Associated Press that Wang had failed her first attempt to defend her dissertation and became envious of the victim’s success. Gomelsky described the victim as a highly successful student from Vietnam who discovered how to deliver RNA to human cells using bacteria.

US officials have for years accused China of stealing intellectual property from American universities. When police arrested Wang at LAX, they seized laptops, electronic storage devices, and documents from her possession.

Legal Proceedings and Victim’s Condition

Wang faces a felony charge of aggravated assault and battery in Wyoming, which carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Albany County Circuit Court Judge Robert Sanford granted prosecutors’ request to raise Wang’s bond to $1.5 million cash-only. As of Oct. 13, Wang remained jailed without bail in Los Angeles.

During a police interview on Oct. 5, Wang allegedly claimed she “had not used acrylamide in years.” She has no attorney listed in court documents.

The victim continues to experience difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and a loss of sensation in his left hand. Gomelsky noted that acrylamide is a neurotoxin that “cannot be neutralized so it stays in neurons and basically kills them,” leaving it unclear if the victim will fully recover.

University Response

The University of Wyoming confirmed in an Oct. 13 statement that a graduate student had been charged following an investigation by campus police. The university emphasized that the allegations have not been proven and that Wang is presumed innocent.

“The university takes matters involving the health and safety of the campus community seriously and remains committed to providing a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors,” university President Shane Reeves said in a statement.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns regarding intellectual property theft and academic rivalry, particularly in fields involving sensitive biotechnology. The alleged use of a neurotoxin in a shared academic workspace raises significant safety issues for university laboratories. Additionally, the arrest underscores the ongoing scrutiny of international academic exchanges and the legal complexities of cross-border intellectual property disputes.

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Sources

• theguardian.com: Graduate student accused of poisoning colleague and trying to flee to China arrested at LAX | Wyoming | The Guardian
• people.com: Grad Student Allegedly Tries to Flee U.S. After Poisoning Colleague’s Tea
• nypost.com: Wyoming grad student Aili Wang accused of poisoning colleague arrested at LAX fleeing to China

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.