# 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.
- Title: She nearly died from poisoning. Now she’s releasing spy-cam…
- Summary: Rong Yuan, poisoned by coworker, shares surveillance footage after nearly dying. Rong Yuan, a Berkeley engineer who nearly died from cadmium poisoning by…
- Keywords: rong yuan, david xu, berkeley, cadmium poisoning, spy camera, probation, alameda county, expungement, poisoning, water bottle, news, local
- Source: The San Francisco Standard — https://sfstandard.com/2026/10/10/nearly-died-poisoning-now-s-releasing-spy-cam-videos-convicted-coworker
- Published: 2026-10-10T13:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: rong yuan, david xu, berkeley, cadmium poisoning, spy camera, probation, alameda county, expungement, poisoning, water bottle, news, local
## 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.
## Key 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.