Ex-Lehigh University student who poisoned roommate will serve up to 20 years in prison, tells victim: ‘I cannot undo the damage to your body’
By SARAH M. WOJCIK
THE MORNING CALL |
MAR 24, 2021 AT 2:13 PM
The former Lehigh University chemistry student who admitted poisoning his roommate by slipping a toxin into his food and mouthwash will spend seven to 20 years in state prison for attempted homicide before he’s extradited to China.
Yukai Yang, now 24, apologized to victim Juwan Royal in court on Wednesday, locking eyes with the man he said had become his only friend during his time in the U.S.
This is an undated handout photo of 23-year-old Yukai Yang provided by the Northampton County Department of Corrections. The former Lehigh University chemistry will spend seven to 20 years in state prison for attempted homicide before he’s extradited to China.
This is an undated handout photo of 23-year-old Yukai Yang provided by the Northampton County Department of Corrections. The former Lehigh University chemistry will spend seven to 20 years in state prison for attempted homicide before he’s extradited to China. (Northampton County Department of Corrections / AP)
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He said he was sorry for hurting Royal, for the pain he caused the man’s family, and for the shame he brought to his own family and country.
”I cannot undo the damage to your body,” Yang said, referring to the still somewhat-debilitating effects Royal suffers from his poisoning by thallium, a heavy metal. “I cannot erase the pain I caused your family. I am here today to accept the punishment I deserve.”
Former Lehigh University student pleads guilty to attempted murder for poisoning roommate »
Yang pleaded guilty to attempted homicide in November.
In March 2018, Yang was studying as a chemistry student in his final semester as an undergrad at Lehigh when Royal fell mysteriously ill, fainting and vomiting uncontrollably. Eventually Royal would lose feeling in his toes after experiencing extreme pain he likened to “hundreds of tiny knives” in his feet and toes.
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Eventually Royal’s doctors were able to pinpoint the toxin that was plaguing him and causing headaches, heart palpitations and practically eliminating his appetite. Experts determined Royal’s unusual symptoms were the result of thallium poisoning. Odorless and extremely toxic, thallium was used historically as rat poison, but has since been banned in U.S. over concerns of accidental exposure.
Royal told authorities that he and Yang seemed to have a good relationship for most of their time as roommates, but that in the spring of 2018, their relationship began to deteriorate.
Authorities believe Yang gradually poisoned his roommate, slipping the thallium into his food, drink and mouthwash over the course of weeks or even months. Royal’s first symptoms were skin ailments such as rashes and boils. He sought medical attention, but the cause remained a mystery.
A few days later, he went to the emergency room at St. Luke’s Hospital in Fountain Hill because he was feeling ill. Later that month, he visited again because he was unable to keep food down. Still, doctors were puzzled.
As these symptoms began to appear, Royal, who is Black, found racist graffiti that was allegedly written by Yang and directed toward Royal. In April 2018, police charged Yang with ethnic intimidation.
