A chemical engineer in Berkeley, California, is accused of poisoning a female coworker by adding cadmium to her drink, after hidden-camera footage shows him manipulating her water bottle. The coworker, Rong Yuan, had experienced prolonged, unexplained health problems that included hospital visits and multiple tests. She installed a camera to investigate as her condition did not resolve.
Multiple outlets report that the engineer, identified as David Xu, initially attributed her illnesses to conditions in the office, including claims about mold. The video evidence contradicts those explanations, showing him placing toxic cadmium in her water supply. One outlet also reports that Xu has pleaded no contest to the poisoning charge, aligning with prosecutors’ account that the misconduct was deliberate and repeated over time. The case is framed around the contrast between the coworker’s medical uncertainty and the later discovery of intentional contamination.
