Home / Crime and Justice / Lab Worker Accused of Poisoning Colleague's Water
Lab Worker Accused of Poisoning Colleague's Water
22 Apr
Summary
- Worker allegedly confessed to poisoning a colleague's water.
- The motive involved workplace disputes and a promotion.
- Chloroform was allegedly used to tamper with the drink.
Makoto Kuroda, a 41-year-old lab worker at the University of Wisconsin, has been charged with recklessly endangering safety and tampering with a product with intent to harm. Kuroda allegedly confessed to poisoning a colleague's water bottle, citing frustration with workplace rules and a promotion he did not receive.
The incident was discovered on April 6, 2026, when the colleague, identified as TM, noticed a strange odor and taste in his water and suspected chloroform. Preliminary tests on the water and TM's shoes returned a presumptive positive for chloroform.
Kuroda reportedly admitted to tampering with the water bottle and TM's shoes, using a mixture containing paraformaldehyde. He stated his intention was to make TM feel sick and uncomfortable. He also admitted to using ChatGPT to research harmful chemical amounts.
The university has placed Kuroda on administrative leave and revoked his access to university assets. An investigation into the workplace incident is ongoing. Kuroda's bond was set at $5,000, with conditions including surrendering his passport and avoiding contact with TM.
