A University of Wisconsin-Madison scientist has been charged with attempting to poison a colleague, according to court documents. Makoto Kuroda, 41, a researcher at the university's Influenza Research Institute, allegedly admitted to tampering with his colleague's water bottle and shoes with toxic chemicals, including chloroform, paraformaldehyde (PFA), and Trizol. The incident occurred in early April, with the colleague reporting a strange odor and taste from the water bottle on April 4. Kuroda was charged with recklessly endangering safety and tampering with a household product with intent to harm. The university has placed Kuroda on administrative leave and revoked his research privileges.
Background and Investigation
Kuroda and the colleague, identified only by the initials TM, had worked together since 2017. According to the criminal complaint, Kuroda expressed frustration over the colleague's behavior and a recent promotion. The colleague reported the incident to university police on April 6 after noticing the unusual odor. Kuroda allegedly confessed to a professor and left a note in Japanese saying, "I did it." Investigators found that Kuroda had used ChatGPT to research the harmful amounts of PFA and Trizol for humans and animals. The university is conducting a workplace investigation, but details are limited due to employee privacy laws and ongoing criminal proceedings.