The alleged Tylenol Killer of 1982 may be found and convicted as a result of repeated Tylenol product recalls. The FDA has issued a warning about Tylenol Extra Strength and Rolaids. They are considering issuing a call back for the product after a suspicious musty odor was discovered. This past December Tylenol Arthritis Relief was called back after complaints of stomach problems.
In 1982, seven people died after taking Tylenol contaminated with cyanide. James Lewis, a convicted extortionist, was previously believed to be the murderer, but there was not sufficient evidence to convict him. However, new forensic technology and the repeated nature of recalls on Tylenol products may help to determine whether or not he is guilty for the crime.
The Tylenol deaths in 1982 began with 12-year-old Mary Kellerman. On September 29, she complained about feeling unwell and was given a dose of Tylenol. Shortly after,she collapsed on the floor with symptoms similar to a stroke.
Later the same day, Adam Janus, a postal worker, died from what doctors diagnosed as a heart attack. That evening Adam’s younger brother and his brother’s wife had arrived at his home feeling a lot of stress and anxiety over Adam’s death. Feeling under the weather, they both took some of Tylenol that was on the counter, and collapsed.
Stanley’s death that night was followed by his wife’s two days later. The other deaths included a brand new mother who took the Tylenol to help with her post-labor pains.
Immediately upon the discovery that linked Tylenol to the deaths, over 31 million bottles were recalled. Soon after, tamperproof bottles were developed.
The following December, Mr. Lewis was caught sending a letter to Johnson and Johnson promising that he would stop the killings if they would pay him $1 million. Johnson and Johnson is the manufacturer of Tylenol.
In trial, he was convicted of extortion, but said that he was trying to frame someone else by sending the letter. He plead innocent of actually committing the murders.
Mr. Lewis was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but only served 13 of those years. He and his wife have remained the prime suspects in the case even though no condemning evidence has been found. This past week Mr. Lewis and his wife were asked by law officials to provide fingerprints and DNA samples for examination, which they willingly did. This has not been Mr. Lewis has run into the law.
Since then, Tylenol seems to have issued a recall after recall, stimulating unease about their products. No matter how careful officials are, things can slip through. So it is important to be aware of the possibilities and to prepare for the unlikely worst.
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