Shocking: Man caught on CCTV after poisoning coworker for 18 months [Video]

In a shocking incident that unfolded in Berkeley Engineering and Research, a California chemical engineer named David Xu was caught on CCTV poisoning his colleague, Rong Yuan, for nearly 18 months between 2017 and 2019. The perpetrator, whose real name is Xu, managed to covertly spike Yuan's food and water with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, over an extended period.

Xu's deception was so convincing that Yuan suffered debilitating symptoms, multiple hospital visits, and constant fear of a terminal illness. Despite the severity of the situation, Xu maintained a facade of concern, even suggesting Yuan's illness might be caused by mold in their office. This manipulation ended when Yuan set up a hidden camera at her desk, which captured Xu in the act of tampering with her water bottle.

This video evidence led to Xu's arrest and charges of attempted murder and poisoning. Unfortunately, the poisoning didn't just affect Yuan, but also her parents, who inadvertently consumed the poisoned water. After his arrest, Xu received probation and served only one day of jail time. He was released on $2 million bail and later had his home confinement restrictions lifted completely, thanks to a plea bargain by the former Alameda County District Attorney, Pamela Price.

Xu was ultimately sentenced to two years of probation, during which he only served a day in jail. Despite seeking nearly $500,000 in restitution, Xu was only ordered to pay $7,058. After completing his probation, Xu has been trying to have his felony conviction expunged under California's expungement statute.