The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A University of Wyoming graduate student is accused of poisoning a fellow student with acrylamide, a chemical investigators say she purchased online.
The 32-year-old woman was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on October 6. Prosecutors allege she was attempting to travel to China. Investigators said the woman bought acrylamide twice through eBay during the summer and later asked the company to delete her account. Police also reviewed surveillance footage from an office the two students shared.
An affidavit described two incidents recorded by cameras installed by the alleged victim and campus police. On September 27, the woman was allegedly seen going through her colleague’s desk. Footage from October 1 reportedly showed her handling notebooks on the desk, taking photographs of them and rinsing his mug with liquid from her own mug.
The investigation followed concerns about the colleague’s health and the taste of the tea he makes with a coffee maker on his desk. After attending a conference in August, he began suffering from severe fatigue, difficulty sleeping and other unexplained symptoms.
Water from the coffee maker was tested, and a chemistry professor reported that they found acrylamide. The alleged victim continued to experience fatigue and difficulty concentrating, and lost sensation in his left hand. His supervisor said he was unsure whether the student would fully recover.
During a campus police interview on October 5, the woman allegedly said she had not used acrylamide in years.
She faces a felony charge of aggravated assault and battery in Wyoming. Her bond was set at $1.5 million. At the time this was written, she was still in jail in Los Angeles.
If she is convicted of the charges, the woman could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.