California engineer releases video of colleague's cadmium poisoning

Rong Yuan, a victim of a long-term poisoning at Berkeley Engineering and Research, has released hidden-camera footage showing her former colleague, David Xu, tampering with her water bottle. The footage, recorded in 2019, provides visual evidence of the crime that caused Yuan to suffer severe health issues, including hair loss and vomiting, for nearly 18 months between 2017 and 2019.

Laboratory tests revealed that the water contained cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, at levels up to 3.5 million times the federal limit for drinking water. Yuan and her parents were both exposed to the toxin. Xu, a fellow UC Berkeley alumnus, initially faced charges of premeditated attempted murder but ultimately entered a plea agreement. He was sentenced to two years of probation and one day of jail time.

Yuan released the video as a “last resort” after an Alameda County judge granted Xu’s request to expunge his felony conviction. The victim expressed outrage at the legal system, stating, “This legal system already failed me,” as Xu seeks to have his criminal record cleared to facilitate future employment.