A former chemistry major at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania allegedly tried to poison his roommate by secretly mixing the toxic metal thallium and other chemicals into the victim’s food, drinks and mouthwash.
Yukai Yang, a 22-year-old international student from China, was arraigned Thursday on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment in connection with the alleged plot to kill his former roommate, Juwan Royal, who continues to suffer symptoms from the incidents that began in February, prosecutors said.
Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli told reporters at a news conference Thursday that Yang and Royal had been roommates for several years and that the poisoning took place over the span of several months.
Yang was already facing charges of ethnic intimidation for allegedly using a black marker to write “[N-word] get out of here” in their dorm room in April. But prosecutors said Royal, who is black, was unaware of the acrimony between the two seniors.
“Initially, Mr. Royal was dumbfounded by this as everyone else, because he believed they had a fairly cordial relationship as roommates,” Assistant District Attorney Abe Kassis said, according to LehighValleyLive.com.
Police first responded to the pair’s room in February when Royal reported drinking from a water bottle there and then feeling a burning sensation in his mouth, Morganelli told reporters. That prompted Royal to wake up Yang, who then explained what happened, seemingly using his background in chemistry to explain the situation to his roommate.
“So the substance that they are putting in your drink is colorless, odorless and dissolves in water,” Yang reportedly told Royal.
Morganelli said Royal’s tongue was sore for several days and that he became sickened again the following month. Yang told officers March 18 that he thought someone was tampering with the milk in their fridge and Royal’s mouthwash, as both items had changed color.
Royal was sickened again March 29 and went to a hospital after vomiting and being unable to stop shaking, Morganelli said.
Officers returned to the dorm room one week later in response to the graffiti, as well as damage to Royal’s television and bed. Police at that point seized Yang’s computer and cellphone, while Royal told officers about the incident from February and submitted to a blood test, Morganelli told reporters.
Investigators then found that Royal’s blood tested positive for thallium — an odorless, tasteless, toxic soft metal that can be fatal in humans — at 3.6 micrograms per liter, or above the recommended exposure limit, Morganelli said.
Police also found traces of cadmium, another toxic soft metal, inside the pair’s dorm room, but prosecutors said the chemical wasn’t found in Royal’s blood.
Yang later admitted buying chemicals on the internet, including thallium, but said he did so in order to harm himself if he didn’t perform as well as he wanted on future exams at Lehigh, Morganelli said.
Yang allegedly admitted mixing the chemicals with food and drinks inside the dorm room’s shared fridge, according to LehighValleyLive.com.
Yang’s attorney, Janet Jackson, did not return a message regarding the latest allegations, the website reports. He remained jailed in a special housing unit at Northampton County Prison, jail records show.
A motive in the alleged poisoning is unclear, the Morning Call reports. Yang was suspended from the university in April in connection with the graffiti incident, in which Yang intends to plead guilty, Jackson told the newspaper. Royal, meanwhile, graduated last spring.
“The victim is still experiencing physical symptoms from the poisoning that occurred, so this is something has had some lasting impact,” Morganelli told reporters.