Current:Home > FinanceFlorida student deported after being accused of injecting chemicals into neighbors’ home-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
Florida student deported after being accused of injecting chemicals into neighbors’ home
lotradecoin liquidity View Date:2024-12-26 05:16:06
The case against the Florida chemistry doctorate student accused of injecting chemicals into his upstairs neighbors' apartment is on pause after he was deported, his lawyer said.
Xuming Li was charged in June with several counts of battery and one count of possession of a controlled substance. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A hidden camera video captured by the neighbor appeared to show Li inserting a syringe under the door. The resident Umar Abdullah previously told USA TODAY that he set up the camera after repeatedly smelling a strong chemical scent in his home that made him and his family sick.
Li was out on bail after his arrest. Li's lawyer Adam Bantner told USA TODAY Thursday that the defendant was deported.
"As such, a capias (warrant) has been issued by the Court and the case will, essentially, be on pause unless or until he returns to the States," Banter said in an emailed statement.
Abdullah did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on the development.
More:Florida woman stabs boyfriend in eye with rabies needle for looking at other women: Police
For weeks, upstairs neighbor smelled chemicals that made infant daughter sick
As previously reported by USA TODAY, Li frequently complained to Abdullah about everyday noises coming from upstairs, where Abdullah lived with his wife and infant daughter.
On May 31, Abdullah had a friend drop by his house to check on a delivery he received while he was out of town. After she arrived, she called him and asked if he had painted or bought new furniture recently because it smelled strongly of chemicals and made her eyes burn. When he replied no, she said she had to leave because it felt like someone threw chili powder on her.
That was the first of several incidents when his family would experience the mystery smell that seemed to be coming from the water heater closet next to the front door. Abdullah said they called Tampa Fire Recue on one occasion to check for chemical leaks, but found nothing. They had the AC checked and water heater replaced, but neither solved the issue.
Meanwhile, every time the smell would appear, his daughter's eyes would water, and she would cough until she vomited. After eliminating several potential sources of the smell, he and his wife began to suspect someone was tampering with their home.
"I started sniffing the water heater area like a dog, and as I was moving towards the entry door from the water heater door, I felt that the smell is even more severe, a toxic smell," he said. "And the headache – I can't describe in words. It is so bad."
In June, he set up the camera and captured Li approaching the door carrying what looks like a syringe twice on back-to-back days. He provided the video evidence to police.
veryGood! (355)
Related
- US Army intelligence analyst pleads guilty to selling military secrets to China
- More than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, Gaza health officials say
- How a 19th century royal wedding helped cement the Christmas tree as holiday tradition
- NBA on Christmas: Schedule, times, TV info, how to watch league's annual holiday showcase
- 51 Must-Try Stress Relief & Self-Care Products for National Relaxation Day (& National Wellness Month)
- 'That's good': Virginia man's nonchalant response about winning $1,000 a week for rest of life
- Emergency repairs close Interstate 20 westbound Wateree River bridge in South Carolina
- RuPaul's Drag Race Alum Farrah Moan Comes Out as Transgender
- Meta kills off misinformation tracking tool CrowdTangle despite pleas from researchers, journalists
- Russian official says US is hampering a prisoner exchange with unequal demands
Ranking
- US unemployment claims fall 7,000 to 227,000 in sign of resiliency in job market
- Are COVID-19 symptoms still the same? What to know about this winter's JN.1 wave
- Horoscopes Today, December 22, 2023
- Oregon State, Washington State agree to revenue distribution deal with departing Pac-12 schools
- Ryan Reynolds on his 'complicated' relationship with his dad, how it's changed him
- The Dutch government has taken another step toward donating 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine
- 'Everyone walked away with part of themselves healed' – 'The Color Purple' reimagined
- Biden believes U.S. Steel sale to Japanese company warrants ‘serious scrutiny,’ White House says
Recommendation
-
Giants trading Jordan Phillips to Cowboys in rare deal between NFC East rivals
-
AP Week in Pictures: Latin America and Caribbean
-
Where to donate books near me: Check out these maps for drop-off locations in your area
-
Christmas Eve 2023 store hours: Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Best Buy, TJ Maxx all open
-
Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee resigns after federal bribery charge
-
Videos show 'elite' Louisville police unit tossing drinks on unsuspecting pedestrians
-
No. 1 picks Victor Wembanyama and Connor Bedard meet: The long and short of it
-
Willie Nelson Reveals How His Ex-Wife Shirley Discovered His Longtime Affair