Scientist Irritated by Lab Colleague Accused in Poisoning Attempt
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- A University of Wisconsin-Madison scientist, Makoto Kuroda, poisoned a colleague's water with chloroform due to long-standing resentment and jealousy, according to local authorities.
- The victim, identified only as T.M., discovered the contamination after tasting the foul water from his Trader Joe’s bottle and later noticed a suspicious odor from his laboratory shoes.
- Kuroda, 41, a staff scientist at the Influenza Research Institute, faces two felony charges: recklessly endangering safety and tampering with a household product with intent to harm.
- Testing confirmed the presence of a high level of chloroform in the victim’s water, a toxic chemical accessible in their shared lab.
- Kuroda admitted to the poisoning in person and in a written message to another colleague, expressing remorse for his actions.
