Chinese Police Accused of Poisoning a Cancer Researcher Seized Laptops While Fleeing America

Ayli Wang, a University of Wyoming student, was reportedly arrested after surveillance footage showed her poisoning her colleague's cup with acrylamide, a neurotoxin.

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A University of Wyoming student has been arrested after police say he tried to poison a colleague, then tried to flee to China when officers questioned him.

Ailee Wang, 32, was questioned by university police after surveillance cameras caught her washing her cup with liquid from a co-worker who was experiencing medical symptoms on Oct. 1, according to a University of Wyoming police affidavit, which added that she was seen on camera taking pictures and tampering with notebooks.

Wang settled with his colleague, who was not named in court documents. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Wang rummaging through the victim's desk. The victim specialized in disease treatment technology, similar to what he had done in China.

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According to the American Cancer Society, the liquid was identified as acrylamide, a chemical that can cause a number of health problems, including cancer. According to authorities, Wang was discovered buying the chemicals through eBay after the victim's wife tested the water from the coffee maker she used to brew the tea.

When questioned by campus police on Oct. 5, Wang said he "hasn't used acrylamide in years," according to court documents. He was arrested a day later on Oct. 6 at Los Angeles International Airport, and prosecutors allege he was trying to return to China, where he is from.

When he was arrested, Wang was found with "multiple laptops, multiple external portable digital storage devices, related accessories, physical records and written materials," according to prosecutors' request to raise his bail to $200,000 after he was extradited to Wyoming. His bond was only raised to $1.5 million.

The affidavit states that the victim's work involved federally funded research involving "new technology for the treatment of cancer, neurological and genetic diseases," and states that Wang had no reason to go to his desk.

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"It was one of the worst shocks of my career," Gomelski said.

According to Gomelsky, the victim is a high-achieving student from Vietnam. Gomelsky said Wang rejected the first defense of his thesis, citing his colleague's achievement in finding a way to use bacteria to deliver RNA to human cells.

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The professor said that shortly after attending a prestigious conference in August, the victim suddenly became extremely tired and unable to sleep.

Gomelski said the victim is still experiencing symptoms of the alleged poisoning, which include an inability to concentrate.

"Acrylamide is a neurotoxin that can't be neutralized, so it stays in the neurons and basically kills them. So it's not clear if he'll ever fully recover," Gomelsky said.

Gomelski said the suspect had not worked at the lab since June because he was working on his dissertation.

Wang was charged in Wyoming with assault and battery, which carries up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

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Tak Somaya, an assistant professor at the University of Wyoming who helped identify the chemical used to poison the male victim, said he is working on a "very promising cancer treatment."

"The University takes the health and safety of the campus community seriously and is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors," said University of Wyoming President Shane Reeves.

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