The Tylenol Murders
Mr. Bill
were there all of these protective devices and seals on everything before
this happened? I sure don't remember any.
Another case of one person costing bilions and billions of dollars and
scaring everybody and to a degree, changing the way we lived.
I think the anthrax threat is similar, only on a much greater scale. Look
at how just 19 men have changed the course of history and all of our lives
forever.
Maggie
>Back in the late 1970's when some sub-human put poison in Tylenol capsules,
>were there all of these protective devices and seals on everything before
>this happened? I sure don't remember any.
>
>Another case of one person costing bilions and billions of dollars and
>scaring everybody and to a degree, changing the way we lived.
>
>I think the anthrax threat is similar, only on a much greater scale.
***I've been thinking about the similarities between what's going on now and
the Tylenol scare, too (1980's, btw). You're right that all the seals weren't
put on medications until after we all became aware of how easy it was to tamper
with common medications. I assume this anthrax scare will lead to changes in
how mail is handled and, probably, how food is packaged. And, I likewise
assume, that the anthrax murderer will be very elusive--although not, I
certainly hope, as elusive as the person who poisoned the Chicagoans with
adulterated Tylenol almost 20 years ago.
Maggie
"The same people always urging us to not blame the victim in rape cases are now
saying Uncle Sam wore a short skirt and asked for it." -- Jonathan Alter
Nancy Rudins
|> Mr. Bill said;
|> >Back in the late 1970's when some sub-human put poison in Tylenol capsules,
|> >were there all of these protective devices and seals on everything before
|> >this happened? I sure don't remember any.
|> >
|> >Another case of one person costing bilions and billions of dollars and
|> >scaring everybody and to a degree, changing the way we lived.
|> >
|> >I think the anthrax threat is similar, only on a much greater scale.
|>
|> ***I've been thinking about the similarities between what's going on now and
|> the Tylenol scare, too (1980's, btw). You're right that all the seals weren't
|> put on medications until after we all became aware of how easy it was to tamper
|> with common medications. I assume this anthrax scare will lead to changes in
|> how mail is handled and, probably, how food is packaged. And, I likewise
|> assume, that the anthrax murderer will be very elusive--although not, I
|> certainly hope, as elusive as the person who poisoned the Chicagoans with
|> adulterated Tylenol almost 20 years ago.
|>
|> Maggie
|>
I've thought about the similarities, too. The Tylenol poisoner never
was caught.
I *never* eat food from salad bars or those buffet places that have
the stuff set out on tables.
Kind regards,
Nancy
--
unix: panic[cpu0]/thread=4003fe60: Out of Coffee!
Nancy Rudins nru...@ncsa.uiuc.edu
http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/People/nrudins/
JLplsSS
>was caught.
>
>Nancy
I thought that the woman was caught. I saw a show within the last year on the
Discovery Channel that indicated that a woman who had already poisoned her
hubby tampered with some bottles after the fact and put the same poison them
them in order to cover up her original crime. She put tampered pills in her
husband's meds and suggested to the police that they should revisit his death.
Donna
My opinions might have changed, but not the fact that I am right.
PattyC
news:20011030191726...@mb-fi.aol.com...
I think what you are remembering is some lady who was a "copycat." She took
the opportunity to try and poison hubby. I don't remember the details, but
the authorities knew she was not the real Tylenol tamperer.
PattyC
> --
"Feminism is the radical notion that women are people."
darkstar
>was caught.
I'm *tellin'* ya, it was Michael Swango. He was in medical school in
Illinois at the time.
Nancy Rudins
That's how I recall it too, PattyC. I'll see if I can find
some details.
Uncartie
"Nancy Rudins" <nru...@ncsa.uiuc.edu> wrote in message
news:j8TD7.1479$Wa1....@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu...
prosecuted for sending extortion letters to several manufacturers. I believe
he received a 10 or 20 yr sentence.
Maggie
INTRODUCTION
In 1982, seven people in the Chicago area collapsed suddenly and died after
taking tylenol capsules that had been laced with cyanide. These five females
and two males, all relatively young, became the first victims ever to die from
what came to be known as product tampering. The poisoned capsules had been
placed on shelves in six different stores by a person intent on killing
innocent people at random. One victim was a 12 year old girl who had a cold.
Another victim had just returned from the hospital after giving birth to a baby
boy. The tragedy was compounded for one family who lost three members. Overcome
by grief at the sudden inexplicable death of a close relative, two other family
members were offered tylenol capsules from the same bottle, not yet aware that
poison was the cause of death. The case has never been solved, and the $100,000
reward offered by Johnson & Johnson remains unclaimed.
A wave of copycat tamperings occurred afterwards: Lipton Cup-A-Soup in 1986,
Exedrin in 1986, Tylenol again in 1986, Sudafed in 1991, and Goody's Headache
Powder in 1992. Deaths resulted in these cases. Prior to 1982, tamper-proof
capsules and tamper-proof packaging were essentially unknown. The technology
evolved rapidly in response to the threat, and today such packaging is a
familiar sight to all. Although copycat product tamperings have tapered off,
probably as a direct result of improved packaging, cases continue to occur
sporadically to this day. Incidents have occurred throughout the country, but
with a surprising number in the Chicago area. Some 53 threats of product
tampering have, in fact, been received by the FBI with a Gary, Indiana or south
Chicago area postmark. Gary, of course, is a part of the Greater Chicago area.
Cases of tampering, including the use of cyanide, have occurred in North
Chicago, Lombard, Chicago proper and outlying areas. One unsolved cyanide
poisoning occurred in Detroit, and another in Tennessee. Could the Tylenol
Killer still be at work, continually attempting to bypass the latest
tamper-proof products?
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Tylenol killer has never been caught. Many believe he never will be caught.
A somewhat bumbling suspect who attempted to cash in on the unprecedented
publicity was arrested and charged with extortion, but not with the murders.
The police concluded he was merely an opportunistic extortionist, and could not
be the murderer. Although some believed he should have been tried for the
murders, too many details and circumstances suggested he could not be the
poisoner. James Lewis was released in 1995, after serving 13 years of a 20 year
sentence.
THE VICTIMS
Mary Kellerman, 12, Elk Grove Village
Adam Janus, 27, Arlington Heights
Stanley Janus, 25, Lisle
Theresa Janus, 19, Arlington Heights
Paula Prince, 35, Chicago
Mary Reiner, 27, Winfield
Mary McFarland, 31, Elmhurst
The lot numbers of the tainted tylenol capsules were MD 1910, MC 2880, MA 1801,
and MB 2738. Evidently they were taken from different stores over a period of
weeks or months, prior to being poisoned and placed back on the shelves of five
different Chicago area stores. One package was placed in each store, except
that two bottles were recovered from the Woodfield Osco. Also, two bottles were
recovered from one other retail outlet that was not identified. Some of the
packages had 5 or less poisoned capsules. One had 10 poisoned capsules.
STORES WHERE POISONED TYLENOL WAS PLACED
Jewel Foods, 122 N. Vail, Arlington Heights
Jewel Foods, 948 Grove Mall, Elk Grove Village
Osco Drug Store, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg
Walgreen Drug Store, 1601 N. Wells, Chicago
Frank's Finer Foods, 0N040 Winfield Rd, Winfield
(one unidentified retail outlet)
THE ROUTE
The choice of locations for placement suggests the poisoner drove the highway
routes 90/94, 290 & 294, driving in a near circular route, and selecting
obvious and typical sites.The killer apparently spent several hours, possibly
Wednesday all day or in the evening, distributing the fatally laced packages.
The choice of supermarkets for placement suggests the killer was most
comfortable with shoplifting from these types of stores. He probably lived near
a similar supermarket, where he likely stole the original packages, although he
would have been unlikely to place them back on the shelf of the same store.
Sufficient information has not been released to determine the probable store(s)
from which the tylenol packages were taken, or the order in which the laced
packages were placed on the shelves, but this might enable reconstruction of
the driving route, including his possible origin, and whether the killer worked
a day job at the time.
THE RESIDENCE AREA
The specific avoidance of the numerous drug stores within the dense urban areas
of west and north Chicago proper can hardly go unnoticed. The one odd location,
the Wells street store, sits in the midst of a higher rent district, making it
unlikely that the killer, unemployed, a student, or menially employed, would
have lived there. Likewise, most of the other suburban locations can be ruled
out. The area of most probable residence of the Tylenol Murderer would seem to
have been areas of north and west Chicago proper, including neighborhoods like
Lincoln Park (excluding the lakeshore), Rogers Park, Oak Park, and other
non-black, non-hispanic, non-affluent, rental areas between North & Touhy and
Halsted & Harlem. Alternatively, the Woodfield Osco, where two bottles were
placed, is a very unlikely location for a non-resident to stumble across, and
the route shown in the image would be reversed if we take Woodfield as the
first placement location.
THE POISON
The poison used in the Tylenol Murders was a cyanide compound. Such compounds,
which include potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide, are available to those in
certain industries, such as gold and silver mining, fertilizer production,
steel plating, and the film processing/chemicals industries. Workers in these
industries have anonymous access, but then so do a variety of other people who
are obliquely associated with these industries, such as truckers and college
students.
The specific form of cyanide used in the poisonings has been reported to be
potassium cyanide, according to then Illinois Attorney General Tyrone Fahner,
in an article in the Chicago Tribune dated Oct. 3, 1982. The level of purity
was not publicly reported, but in the 1986 incident, which also involved
potassium cyanide, the purity was reported as 90%. Potassium cyanide is
commonly used in the metal electroplating, metal extraction, photographic and
cinematographic film processing industries.
THE TAMPERED CAPSULES
The amount of cyanide inserted in each capsule was reported as 65 milligrams
but was probably 100 milligrams or more since the fatal dose for NaCN is about
150 milligrams. Other doses reported in the newpapers (5-6 micrograms) were
clearly incorrect.
The killer completely emptied each of some 20 or 30 capsules, and then refilled
them with the grayish crystalline potassium cyanide. The capsules that were
recovered all appeared deformed or bulky. This crude, clumsy work would have
been obvious to a careful eye, but such a cruel and pusillanimous act could not
have been anticipated in 1982.
The rather imprecise work indicates an amateur of limited skills -- probably
someone incapable of performing quality work even in his own field or
employment. This young man was no chemist, no biologist, no computer
programmer, no precise professional of any sort, but more likely a facile,
inexperienced amateur in his early twenties with pretensions to real knowledge.
The quantities used in this crime also suggest that he had anonymous access to
no insignificant quantity of potassium cyanide, in amounts that were not
missed. Furthermore, placement of the tampered product on store shelves,
apparently on a Wednesday afternoon, suggest no daytime employment, or at least
no full-time employment. Is this a possible college student or recent graduate
without employment? Did he perhaps have access to a film processing laboratory?
These possibilities are not inconsistent with what is known. Only a complete
theory is lacking to tie it all together, and what a theory requires for
completeness is a motive.
THE MOTIVE
No evidence was ever found that anyone profited specifically from the Tylenol
Murders. No unusual stock trading activity was detected, although Johnson &
Johson stock dropped dramatically overnight. None of the victims were wealthy
or seemed to be a possible target of a murder plot to be covered up with 6
random murders. All the victims were relatively young, and no large insurance
policies had been recently taken out on any of them. One of the victims had a
manufacturing subcontract worth some $25,000 (gross) annually, and transfer of
which was requested by two different relatives (actions apparently unknown to
each other) shortly after his death. However, this is hardly the sort of money
such an elaborate and horrendous crime is staged for. Neither relative was
granted the subcontract anyway.
The motivation for this crime does not seem to have been any kind of direct
profit. In fact, the motivation may not have been money at all. It may have
been sheer hatred for humanity, or perhaps the attempt to gain publicity or
fame for some other venture. Whatever the motivation of the killer, it would
seem his objective was unrealized.
THE TYLENOL KILLER
What do we know about the real Tylenol Killer? We can reasonably surmise all of
the following:.
* The tylenol killer is a white male.
* He was in his twenties in 1982, he'd be in his 40s today.
* Lived in the Chicago area in 1982.
* Owned a car or truck.
* Devious but not particularly intelligent.
* A skilled shoplifter.
* Has few friends, and temporary ones at that.
* Definitely misanthropic, cowardly.
* Limited income, and works a low wage job.
* Perhaps has a degree, but is a failure in his degreed field.
* Has comparatively menial employment, if any.
* His objective in the Tylenol killings remains unachieved.
We could speculate the following:
* He has an Associate's of Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts.
* May have majored in photography, cinematography, or related fields.
* He has trouble holding a job and can't get along with people.
* Probably myopic -- wears glasses.
* Probably uses drugs.
* A prankster, enjoys playing tricks on people.
* Has a morbid sense of humor.
* He probably moved out of the Chicago area within a couple years of the
crime.
* He didn't move far, but lives in the vicinity.
* Owns a copy of the Anarchist Cookbook and related literature on
poisons.
* Probably attended a Chicago area college or university during or before
the killings.
* Deceptive, a good liar.
* Has a violent temper, becomes irrational.
* Likely to be a domineering and self-justifying.
* Has probably been in trouble with the law, but for unrelated matters.
Ever know anyone like this? Certainly someone does, or did once.
Most people believe the Tylenol Killer will never be caught, and that this was
an unsolvable crime. But consider the fact that the Unabomber now sits in jail,
all because one person in the world recognized him in the published
information. The Tylenol Killer is probably still alive, and as long as he
lives there is still hope of solving this crime, because someone, somewhere,
knows him personally.
Maggie
>>was caught.
>
>I'm *tellin'* ya, it was Michael Swango. He was in medical school in
>Illinois at the time.
***I've never heard that theory, but I doubt it. Swango seemed to enjoy
watching his victims die, so this seems a very unlikely way for him to kill.
Not to mention that the Tylenol tampering was done rather clumsily. I think
Swango would have done a better, neater job.
pacoyogi
Dear Darkstar:
First: Finally, some true crime!!!
Second: That is a really interesting theory. I am going to reread
the James B. Stewart book, Blind Eye, again and see if there is any
reference to the Tylenol poisonings---I note that when the book was
originally published, Swango had not been convicted of any murder--was
still under suspicion, but was in jail for fraud.
Undoubtedly, Stewart had to be careful of a libel suit--I wonder if he
had any evidence, or just suspicions, or didn't think he was involved.
yr obedient servant, pacoyogi
brigidnelson
>
> >The Tylenol poisoner never
> >was caught.
> >
>
> >Nancy
>
> I thought that the woman was caught. I saw a show within the last year on the
> Discovery Channel that indicated that a woman who had already poisoned her
> hubby tampered with some bottles after the fact and put the same poison them
> them in order to cover up her original crime.
She put tampered pills in her
> husband's meds and suggested to the police that they should revisit his death. -
So that she could benefit from the accidental death clause in her
husband's life insurance policy. Her tampering also resulted in another
death as she returned some tampered Tylenol to the store to avert
suspicion from herself.
She's the one I curse every Sunday nite when I'm peeling the backing off
of my daughter's meds for the week. Though sometimes I acknowledge that
if it hadn't been her it would have been someone else - I had no idea
til today that there were so *many* copy cat incidents. If there is a
hell I envivion these people spending eternity prying the protective
seals from pill bottles and peeling the backing from bubble packs.
And they never would have caught her because the assumption was that her
husband had died from emphysema - double indemnity, it's a bitch.
brigid