USC PhD Student Confesses Drugging, Sexual Assault of Three Women

Sizhe Weng, a 30-year-old doctoral student in electrical engineering at the University of Southern California, has confessed to drugging, tying up, sexually assaulting three women, and taking disturbing photos of their unconscious bodies over attacks spanning from 2021 to 2024. The victims included two friends from China and a classmate from his doctoral program. Weng allegedly used crushed benzodiazepine pills and injected the sedative midazolam anally with syringes and tubing, tying the women with leather straps and sexually assaulting them. Police suspect there may be additional victims, some of whom may be unaware of the assaults. Weng has been charged with forcible rape, sodomy by controlled substance or anesthesia, and other sexual assault charges; he has pleaded not guilty. The case has drawn significant public attention, highlighting issues of women's safety and prompting ongoing investigations by Los Angeles law enforcement.