Graduate student arrested at LAX accused of poisoning colleague

A Chinese graduate student from the University of Wyoming, Aili Wang, 32, was arrested on October 6 at Los Angeles International Airport on accusations she poisoned a colleague's tea and attempted to flee the country. Prosecutors allege Wang sought to return to China with electronic devices and documents.

Wang remained jailed without bail Tuesday in Los Angeles. She faces a felony aggravated assault and battery charge in Wyoming, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. It is unclear when she could be extradited to Wyoming, where Albany County Circuit Court Judge Robert Sanford granted prosecutors' request to raise her bond to $1.5 million cash-only.

The investigation began after the alleged victim, identified in court documents as "KT," began experiencing symptoms. His wife and others reportedly isolated the chemical, acrylamide, in the coffee maker water used by the victim. Surveillance cameras were then set up in the shared office space, and Wang was allegedly recorded on September 27 going through the victim's desk. On October 1, she was recorded taking photos and manipulating notebooks on his desk, and rinsing his mug with liquid from her own mug, according to a University of Wyoming campus police officer’s affidavit.

Professor Mark Gomelsky, who oversaw both students, stated that the victim had noticed a strange taste in his tea, which would disappear when he washed the coffee maker. Gomelsky said he was uncertain if the victim would fully recover and described the situation as "disheartening" and one of the "worst shocks" in his professional career.

Wang allegedly purchased acrylamide over eBay twice last summer and later asked the online retailer to delete her account, police said. US officials have previously accused China of intellectual property theft from American universities.