Former Lehigh University student pleads guilty to attempted murder

Yang could face up to 40 years in prison for poisoning roommate

A former Lehigh University student could face up to 40 years in a state prison after pleading guilty Monday in Northampton County Court to poisoning his roommate.

Yukai Yang, 24, of China, will be sentenced in January. Hepleaded guilty before Judge Stephen Baratta to attempted first-degree murder and related charges.

Yang, a former Lehigh chemistry student, was arrested in December 2018 following a lengthy investigation. His roommate, Juwan Royal, testified at previous hearings that he was stricken with a mysterious illness that caused him to faint, vomit uncontrollably and eventually lose feeling in his toes.

Though the roommates had a good relationship when they started living together, prosecutors say their friendship went south in 2018. While Royal was experiencing symptoms, he also was being intimidated by racist graffiti allegedly written by Yang and directed toward Royal, who is Black, authorities said. In April 2018, Yang was charged with ethnic intimidation.

During the months that he was being poisoned, Royal lost 20 pounds, suffered headaches and heart palpitations and experienced pain that was like “hundreds of tiny knives going into his feet and toes,” he testified previously. His parents brought him to a specialist in New York who diagnosed him with heavy metal poisoning from the chemical thallium.

First Deputy District Attorney Richard Pepper said Mondaythat Royal is still recovering from the poisoning. He was not in court Monday but will have an opportunity to address the judge when Yang is sentenced.

Assistant District Attorney Katharine Kurnas said previously Royal’s long-term health outlook remains unclear, since there’s limited research on thallium’s effects on humans.

Yang remains in the Northampton County Jail.