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The Tylenol Murders

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The Tylenol Murders

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    1. The Tylenol Murders

    2. Victims- September 29, 1982 At 7 am 12 year-old Mary Kellerman was found on the bathroom floor and rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

    3. Victims- September 29, 1982 Paramedics rushed Adam Janus to the hospital labored breathing and low blood pressure. He died at the hospital. Stanley and Theresa Janus later collapsed in Adam’s house and were rushed to the hospital. Stanley died that day and Theresa died two days later.

    4. Suspicion Death of family in same house raised suspicion of poisonous gas. Symptoms indicated it could be cyanide. Blood tests revealed the presence of cyanide. Were all four deaths linked?

    5. Connections The morning of her death Mary Kellerman took Extra Strength Tylenol. Stanley and Theresa Janus took Extra Strength Tylenol from a bottle left out in Adam Janus’ house. Bottles were collected so caplets could be tested.

    6. Toxicology Tests Tainted pills contained 65 mg of cyanide 10,000 times the amount necessary to kill Specific form of cyanide was Potassium Cyanide

    7. Investigation into J&J All Tylenol products removed from the shelves. Massive recall and warnings Johnson & Johnson factory investigated- no traces of cyanide found Cyanide must have been placed in capsules after leaving the factory.

    8. Despite warnings 3 more victims die from cyanide-laced capsules. Police investigated stores containing bottles with serial numbers linked to the cyanide laced bottles. Found 6 stores in the Chicago area with tampered bottles. Each store contained one tampered bottle with 3 to 10 cyanide pills

    9. Likely Suspect Has access to Potassium Cyanide Holds a grudge against J & J Grudge against stores Grudge against society in general Possibly lives in area close to stores

    10. Suspect Number 1 A 45 year-old Roger Arnold Worked at a factory that produced Tylenol delivered to two of the affected stores. Worked with cyanide Owned a book describing how to poison caplets No solid evidence to connect him with the crime

    11. Suspect 2- James W. Lewis Known extortionist, had fingerprints on file Traced from a hand-written extortion letter sent to J & J. Handwriting on letter matched Lewis’ handwriting and also the handwriting on a letter sent to the White House about the Tylenol scare Finger print on the letter was Lewis’ Couldn’t place Lewis in area at time of crime

    12. Handwriting Analysis Have suspect write a specific word or phrase for comparison= requested standard Gather samples from suspects home= natural standards Do not allow person to see the questioned document Ask for many different things so writer lets guard down

    13. Handwriting Analysis Look at handedness, slant, form, shape of letters, punctuation, spelling, alignment, pressure, etc. Can use stereomicroscope to compare indentations in writing samples.

    14. Fingerprint Analysis- Detection Special Lighting Lasers X-Rays Chemical processes Magnetic Powder Iodine fuming

    15. Fingerprint Analysis- Matching Prints are lifted from the surface Look at whorls, loops, and arches Use ridge patterns and characteristics Need at least 12 matching points for positive identification

    16. Suspect Number 3- Kevin Masterson Known to hold grudge against two store locations Father worked at company that had cyanide Voiced threats concerning the stores to his psychiatrist.

    17. Effects of the Tylenol Murders Fear of Tylenol products Johnson & Johnson’s reputation ruined Fear of poisoning flooded hospitals Tamper proof packaging introduced on Tylenol products

    18. The Tylenol Bill and Federal Changes 1983- Malicious tampering with consumer products became a federal offense 1989- National requirements were set for tamper-proof packaging on over the counter drugs.

    19. Copycats After the Tylenol Murders there was a large rise in suspected incidents of product tampering

    20. References Bell, Rachael. “The Tylenol Terrorist.” at www.crimelibrary.com accessed February 21, 2005. “Fingerprint Analysis- The Basics” at www.crimtrac.gov.au/fingerprintanalysis.htm accessed March 31, 2005. “Fingerprints and Trace Evidence” at http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/315/315lect05.htm accessed March 31, 2005. “Forgery Finder” at www.forgeryfinder.com accessed March 31, 2005.

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