A few may remember the terrifying ‘The Tylenol Murders’, which occurred in and around Chicago in the 1980s. It was discovered that there were tainted bottles of Tylenol sold at several grocery and drug stores, starting in 1982. Seven people lost their lives after consuming only a few Tylenol tablets. Netflix is premiering its special on it. The three-part docuseries, entitled Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders, will explore what happened four decades ago.
The Tylenol Murders: What Happened?
Seven people around the Chicago, Illinois area did what they regularly would do for mild pain or fever. They consumed a pill (or two) of over-the-counter Tylenol, also known as acetaminophen. Then they fell gravely ill. Sadly, none survived. It was later discovered that the Tylenol pills were laced with a highly lethal poison known as potassium cyanide.
As you can imagine, even pre-Internet, there was an uproar. How were these people getting poisoned? Where was it coming from? It didn’t take long to discover that the common activity the victims shared was taking Tylenol.
Who Was Behind The Tylenol Murders?
Although it was never determined whether this particular person was the one who laced the Tylenol bottles, authorities very carefully watched James William Lewis. He had a criminal history and problems prior to this involving Johnson & Johnson, which is Tylenol’s manufacturer.
Other than Lewis, two other suspects were considered. Roger Arnold, an Illinois dock worker, was investigated. Additionally, the Unabomber himself, Ted Kaczynski was later regarded as a possible suspect. Kaczynski had ties to Lombard, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The inquests into Arnold and Kaczynski never panned out, so this left James Lewis as the primary suspect.
The Aftermath of the Tylenol Murders
The Tylenol murders inspired several copycats, and concerns for other methods of pill poisoning were addressed. Much tighter regulations were enacted on both the manufacturer and distributor side. Unsurprisingly, Tylenol sales took a hit.
After the Tylenol murders, multiple regulations were put in place. Pill bottles had to be sealed, either with a foil seal on the mouth of the bottle or a plastic seal around the cap. In 1983, the United States government passed the “Tylenol Bill,” thereby making it a federal offense to tamper with consumer over-the-counter medication.
Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders Docuseries
Starting May 26th, Netflix will air the three-part series. Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders will dive into the lives of the victims, the methodology, and the ensuing investigation. It also examines the precautions Tylenol and other drug manufacturers take now after the Tylenol murders.
