U.S.|Scientist Irritated by Lab Colleague Accused in Poisoning Attempt

A scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison had simmered for years with such resentment and jealousy over a colleague that he poisoned the man’s water with chemicals this month, local authorities said.

The victim quickly discovered the plot when he took a sip from his contaminated Trader Joe’s water bottle and spat out the foul-tasting water, according to a state criminal complaint charging the defendant, Makoto Kuroda. Two days later, the victim, who was identified in the complaint only by the initials T.M., smelled a suspicious odor coming from the laboratory shoes he kept in his office and reported the incident.

Mr. Kuroda, 41, a staff scientist at the Influenza Research Institute in the School of Veterinary Medicine, faces two felony charges of recklessly endangering safety and tampering with a household product with the intent to kill, injure or endanger someone’s health. Testing indicated that the victim’s water contained a high level of chloroform, a common and toxic chemical that is accessible in the lab where both men worked.

According to the complaint, Mr. Kuroda confronted the victim in the lab several days after the incident, saying, “I did it.” He also wrote another colleague, admitting to the poisoning. “I did it,” he wrote, according to the complaint. “I have also informed the person himself. I am very sorry.”

A public defender representing Mr. Kuroda, who was being held in the local jail, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

John Lucas, a spokesman for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said in a statement that Mr. Kuroda was currently on administrative leave and that the university was conducting an investigation. Mr. Kuroda’s research privileges have been revoked, Mr. Lucas added.