Harvard police investigation of possible poisoning of researchers’ coffee machine stalls

Probe into Harvard coffee poisoning stalls

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Harvard University says a four-month investigation into possible coffee poisoning at the medical school has failed to turn up any suspects.

Harvard police interviewed 150 people during the investigation that began when six researchers fell ill Aug. 26 after drinking from a coffee machine in a lounge. The school later determined the coffee was laced with sodium azide, a toxic chemical used in school labs.

Officials said in a Dec. 23 memo to the Harvard Medical School Community that police were concluding the “active phase” of the investigation, but that the case remained open. The development was first reported Tuesday by the Boston Herald.

The memo says campus police will “actively and fully pursue” any new leads and details security enhancements.

Harvard officials declined Tuesday to elaborate further.