From The San Francisco Standard · · 2m
She nearly died from poisoning. Now she’s releasing spy-cam videos of convicted coworker
Rong Yuan, poisoned by coworker, shares surveillance footage after nearly dying.
In brief
Rong Yuan, poisoned by coworker, shares surveillance footage after nearly dying. Rong Yuan, a Berkeley engineer who nearly died from cadmium poisoning by coworker David Xu, is releasing spy-cam videos to expose him after a probation period ended. Originally reported by The San Francisco Standard.
Rong Yuan’s health decline
For nearly two years, Berkeley engineer Rong Yuan, 50, had been getting sicker and sicker.
Symptoms and tests
She experienced dry heaving, hair loss, vomiting, and a persistent sour taste in her mouth.
Suspected poisoning
She bought a spy camera from Amazon to investigate her workplace after symptoms worsened.
First video evidence
The camera captured David Xu pouring a substance into her water bottle at 11:04 a.m. on Feb. 11, 2019.
Second video evidence
A second video dated March 4, 2019, showed Xu pouring a substance into her water bottle and rotating it.
Police investigation
Berkeley Police tested water samples from Yuan’s bottles and found cadmium at levels up to 3.5 million times the federal limit.
Charges and arrest
David Xu was charged with premeditated attempted murder and two felony counts of poisoning in March 2019.
Plea deal
In September 2023, Xu pleaded no contest to poisoning with one year of probation and one day of credit for time served.
Probation completion
Xu completed his two years of probation in March 2024 and will seek expungement of his conviction.
Health impacts
Yuan suffers long-term health effects from cadmium poisoning and cannot work full time.
Expungement concerns
Yuan fears expungement will hide Xu’s conviction on background checks for future employers.
Research paper
Yuan published a research paper on long-term health consequences of cadmium poisoning after her father’s death.
Legal battle
The district attorney’s office contests Xu’s expungement petition, but California law requires dismissal if probation conditions were met.
Current status
Yuan plans to attend the hearing on Monday to challenge the expungement petition.
Long-term impact
Yuan hopes her research will help doctors detect cadmium poisoning before it causes serious health damage.
The takeaway
Rong Yuan, a Berkeley engineer who nearly died from cadmium poisoning by coworker David Xu, is releasing spy-cam videos to expose him after a probation period ended.
