[1][2][3] The victims were Canadians Richard Davis, William Butler, David Fisk, and Keith Fern, with three other friends and acquaintances reported to be mildly infested.
Some time around February 1, Kranz prepared a festive Winter Carnival dinner for his roommates, and allegedly tainted the food with eggs stolen from the university laboratory where he studied.
There was expert evidence before the court consistent with the presence of Ascaris larvae in the bodies of two of the complainants: however, opinions from three other laboratory sources were not available.
The defence further claimed that the infection could have occurred by way of a recurring sewage backup into the kitchen sink of the house: a version of events which was denied by at least one of the complainants.
After about four days, the staff was able to confirm the ascariasis diagnosis upon isolating live larvae, about 4 mm long, in the sputum and gastric washings.
Doctors had originally consulted Walter Reed Army Medical Center but found no precedent for human infection.