Berkeley Engineer Releases Surveillance Footage in Poisoning Case Involving Coworker

Engineer Releases Footage Highlighting Workplace Poisoning Case

Rong Yuan, an engineer from Berkeley, has released surveillance footage showing her former coworker, David Xu, allegedly poisoning her with cadmium. This public release comes after Xu, who once faced an attempted murder charge, received only probation following a legal plea deal and is now seeking to have his felony conviction expunged.

Timeline of the Poisoning and Surveillance Efforts

David Xu, 41, was originally charged in 2019 with premeditated attempted murder and two felony counts of poisoning, after authorities said he repeatedly laced Yuan's food and water with cadmium at a Berkeley engineering firm. Yuan, 50, began experiencing health issues as early as 2017, including vomiting, dry heaving, hair loss, and other symptoms that led to frequent hospital visits. Suspicious of tampering after ongoing illness, Yuan installed a hidden surveillance camera near her workspace in February 2019.

One recording caught Xu reaching toward Yuan’s water bottle, and a later video dated March 4, 2019, showed Xu pouring a substance from a small container into the bottle. These videos, which Yuan has now made public, were provided to Berkeley police and led to a criminal investigation.

Laboratory Evidence and Investigation

Laboratory records cited by investigators found cadmium concentrations in Yuan’s drinking water up to 3.5 million times the federal drinking-water limit. Blood samples from Yuan and her parents also tested positive for cadmium. Xu was arrested in March 2019, but the legal proceedings stretched over several years. During much of this period, Xu was not in custody, spending time under house arrest and electronic monitoring.

Plea Deal and Sentencing Outcome

The resolution of the poisoning case came under former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. In September 2023, Xu pleaded no contest to a single felony count of poisoning; all other charges, including attempted murder, were dismissed as part of the agreement. Initially, the deal called for one year of probation, but at Xu’s March 2024 sentencing, the judge described the terms as “extremely generous, considering everything in this case” and extended probation to two years.

Xu also received credit for time served and was ordered to pay Yuan $7,058 in restitution, far less than the $500,000 she had requested. The court further ordered Xu to stay away from Yuan and her parents. Xu completed his probation in March 2026 and is now petitioning for dismissal of his felony conviction—a process known as expungement. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office is opposing the request. As of the most recent update, it was not clear whether a ruling had been made on the expungement.

Lasting Impact and Ongoing Legal Battle

Yuan described the outcome as devastating and expressed frustration with the criminal justice process. She disagreed with a toxicology report provided by Xu’s defense, which questioned if the cadmium exposure could cause lasting health effects. Yuan maintains that she continues to experience health problems from the poisoning and is unable to work full time. She worries expungement could make it harder for potential employers to access Xu’s criminal history, which is part of her motivation for publicly sharing the surveillance footage.

Authorities noted that the video evidence was instrumental in establishing the sequence of events in Yuan’s case. Xu did not respond to requests for comment on the matter, either directly or through his attorney.

Context of Expungement in California

Under California law, individuals who complete probation for certain offenses may petition the court to have convictions dismissed. While expungement provides some relief, it does not erase records or eliminate all consequences of a conviction, according to California Superior Court guidance. This legal process remains a source of concern for Yuan as she continues to advocate for awareness surrounding workplace poisoning and the criminal justice process.

Source: kron4.com.