In a shocking case, a 32-year-old Chinese microbiology graduate student at the University of Wyoming was recently arrested and accused of poisoning a colleague’s tea with a toxic chemical named acrylamide. After the alleged incident, she attempted to leave the United States for China after being questioned by local police and campus authorities.
Wang was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on October 6, 2026, according to local newspaper reports. Investigators alleged that she had purchased acrylamide from eBay and that the chemical was later discovered in water from a small coffee maker that her colleague used to prepare tea in their shared office at the university campus.
The victim’s name has not been publicly disclosed and has been referred to as Katie in reports. He is a graduate student from Vietnam who was conducting research into treatments for cancer, neurological disorders and genetic diseases.
According to statements from various professors, including Mark Gomelsky, the student had started experiencing health problems over the previous two to three months. These included fatigue, sleeping disorders, numbness, weakness in his legs and a loss of sensation.
The victim reportedly noticed an unusual taste in his tea and felt better after cleaning the coffee maker. Suspecting that something was wrong, the victim, his wife and others collected water samples from the appliance and asked a chemistry professor on campus to test them. The professor reportedly identified acrylamide in the sample, prompting the matter to be reported to university police.
A camera was then arranged in the shared office, and footage reportedly showed Wang going through her colleague’s desk on September 26 and repeatedly in October, photographing and handling notebooks before cleaning his mug with liquid poured from her own mug.
Wang had reportedly purchased acrylamide twice from eBay during the previous six months. During an interview with campus police on October 5, she allegedly said that she had not used or purchased acrylamide for several years. Reports also stated that her eBay marketplace account was deleted during the investigation.
The following day, she was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport while allegedly preparing to fly back to China. Among the items she was carrying were multiple laptops, portable storage devices, physical records and written materials, which were subsequently taken into police custody.
Investigators are examining whether Wang’s research was similar to that of the victim. Reports also suggested that Wang had failed her first dissertation defence and may have become jealous of her colleague’s research achievements, although this has not been conclusively established as a motive.
The case has shocked the university campus, and many have expressed concern about the victim’s health and whether he will fully recover.
If convicted of the reported charge, Wang could face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine, depending on the applicable charge and circumstances. Her bond was reportedly increased to $1.5 million in cash.
Acrylamide is used in certain scientific research applications involving proteins and DNA and can be toxic at sufficiently high levels of exposure. The chemical can also form naturally in certain foods cooked at high temperatures.
Wang is presumed innocent unless and until she is proven guilty in court.