University of Wyoming grad student accused of poisoning colleague’s tea

The University of Wyoming announced Tuesday that one of its graduate students was charged with aggravated assault in connection with allegations that she used a substance to harm a colleague in the school’s laboratory. The charge, filed in Albany County Circuit Court last week, followed a University of Wyoming Police Department investigation, the school said. In a statement, UW President Shane Reeves said the university takes matters of health and safety seriously and is committed to keeping the people on campus safe.

The Associated Press identified the accused as microbiology graduate student Aili Wang, a Chinese national. According to the AP, 32-year-old Wang was accused of poisoning the tea of a colleague and was arrested last week at Los Angeles International Airport while allegedly attempting to return to China. The evidentiary affidavit by an officer of the UW Police Department said Wang was found with laptops, electronic storage devices, and documents. According to AP, police said that Wang was seen on surveillance video rummaging through the desk of the victim, who had pending patents and who specialized in technology for disease treatment. Wang was reportedly working on similar research in China before coming to the United States, the affidavit alleged.

Police claim Wang bought a chemical, acrylamide, over eBay that was first detected when the victim’s wife and others tested water from the coffee maker he used to brew tea. According to AP, the victim was experiencing unexplained symptoms, leading them to do testing.

Why did Wang allegedly poison her colleague? The affidavit stated Wang and the alleged victim did not get along, according to the AP. After the victim set up surveillance cameras in the office, they allegedly recorded Wang taking photos and manipulating notebooks at his desk, as well as rinsing out his mug with a liquid from her own mug, the affidavit said.

Wyoming authorities charged Wang with felony aggravated assault and battery, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

WORLD has requested the affidavit from police. UW, when asked for comment, referred WORLD to its published statement.