An ex-Lehigh University chemistry student confessed during a hearing Monday to poisoning his roommate’s food and drinks with a metal substance.
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According to NBC Philadelphia, 24-year-old Yukai Yang pleaded guilty to attempted murder, and based on a plea agreement, the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office will withdraw his other charges. The other charges stem from two separate cases against the college student. Yang confessed to purchasing thallium in March 2018 and gave it to his roommate, Juwan Royal. Royal said he suffered from weight loss, headaches, and nausea as a result of the poisoning. The metal is tasteless, odorless, and can be fatal to humans if consistently ingested. Royal told the court he was diagnosed with heavy poisoning a month after Yang purchased the metal.
Prior to the attempted murder charge, Yang was charged with ethnic intimidation after breaking Royal’s TV and wrote racial slurs on his personal items. However, a motive for poisoning Royal is currently unclear.
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Yang’s sentencing is scheduled for next month on the 21st and if convicted, he faces six to 20 years in prison. He also faces deportation to China after his student visa was revoked due to the crime.