# Suspect in 1982 Tylenol Murders is dead **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 10, 2023, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852 "2023-07-10T09:13:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/1 "2023-07-10T09:13:28Z")
[\> **James Lewis, the sole suspect in the 1982 Tylenol murders, has died**](https://www.yahoo.com/news/james-lewis-sole-suspect-1982-031100972.html) > James Lewis, the lone suspect in the [1982 Tylenol murders](https://www.chicagotribune.com/tylenolmurders/ct-tylenol-murders-investigation-listicle-20220922-kndriges6zgdpf5pvrxdjatah4-list.html), was found dead Sunday at his home in suburban Boston, multiple law-enforcement sources confirmed to the Tribune. > > His death comes after 40 years of intense scrutiny from law enforcement, in which Lewis played a cat-and-mouse game with investigators. Local authorities questioned him as recently as September as part of a renewed effort to bring charges in the case. > > With the investigation’s only suspect dead, it now seems unlikely that charges will ever be brought in poisonings that killed seven people and caused a worldwide panic. _More at the link._ ---
**Author:** ![Keith1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Keith1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith1)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/2 "2023-07-10T12:05:06Z")
Maybe now we can get pack to packaging that doesn’t require a drawer full of tools to open. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/3 "2023-07-10T13:25:57Z")
I don’t understand how the law couldn’t nail this guy. He sent an extortion letter to Johnson and Johnson threatening more poisonings to follow if they didn’t pay him off. Couldn’t they extrapolate that letter to a confession? Who else but the poisoner would send such a letter? But no, the guy got away with it. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/4 "2023-07-10T13:42:48Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > I don’t understand how the law couldn’t nail this guy. He sent an extortion letter to Johnson and Johnson threatening more poisonings to follow if they didn’t pay him off. Couldn’t they extrapolate that letter to a confession? Who else but the poisoner would send such a letter? While this guy may have done it, I can also see a con man trying to cash in on the killings via extortion. Meanwhile, someone just as bad as the Tylenol poisoner is still in prison. [Stella Nickell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_Nickell#:~:text=Stella%20Maudine%20Nickell%20) first fatally poisoned her husband with cyanide. Then, when the insurance payout wasn’t enough for her (the death was originally thought to be from natural causes) she tampered with Excedrin capsules sold at store(s), causing the death of a total stranger. She succeeded in getting her husband’s case reopened and sued the manufacturer, but the attention led to her arrest and conviction. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/5 "2023-07-10T14:23:57Z")
Was there evidence that Lewis was the poisoner or just an opportunist hoping to cash in with an extortion plot? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/6 "2023-07-10T16:29:40Z")
As above. _Any_ sensational crime will trigger copycats, wackos falsely taking credit, and if there’s an avenue for extortion, various pretenders hoping to cash in on that aspect by making their own extortion demands. Given the vast interest this case caused back then, if there had been any way to tie Lewis to the murders, or even if there wasn’t but the prosecutor was daring / ambitious enough, they would have done so by indicting and trying him. That they did not suggests either he pulled off a nearly perfect crime in the sense of leaving no conclusive evidence, or that he was not in fact the actual poisoner. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/7 "2023-07-10T17:24:46Z")
I don’t remember alot about this. I read some. It’s terrible he basically got away with it. As per packaging: I was at a convenience store and a guy in front of me asked for a BC powder. The clerk grabbed the 3 pack. He said “No, I want just one packet” Clerk reaches under the counter and brings one individual packet. I couldn’t tell what he was charged for it. But isn’t that a crime? I would never take something removed from the original packaging. I agree some of the wrappings are overkill. And hard to remove. This is why I have an exacto knife. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/8 "2023-07-10T20:19:06Z")
Never heard of BC Powder. Googling shows it is like an aspirin? Is it a southern thing? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/9 "2023-07-10T20:24:19Z")
[BC Powder](https://www.bcpowder.com/), and the similar [Goody’s Powder](https://www.goodyspowder.com/pain-relievers), are definitely Southern U.S things (and, they are now both owned by the same company). They’re headache/pain remedies: BC contains aspirin and caffeine, while Goody’s also contains acetaminophen. ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/10 "2023-07-10T20:45:36Z")
Hand to Heaven, I just took one before I opened this thread. BC Powder is a headache powder. I believe it is more prevalent in the Southern USA. Tastes awful, works fast. The individual powders somewhat recently changed from unlabeled folded wax papers to labeled sleeves. I wonder if tamper proofing was part of that decision. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/11 "2023-07-10T21:02:24Z")
I believe it is southern as well. They are bad, bad, bad! I think hangover sufferers like them. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/12 "2023-07-10T21:55:09Z")
IIRC the advantage for hangover sufferers is that you can pour the BC powder in a glass of booze and have some hair of the dog while claiming you’re just medicating your headache. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/13 "2023-07-10T22:24:14Z")
Omg! 🤯 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/14 "2023-07-10T22:52:19Z")
I like the icebag on your head. Discourse probably meant that to be a chef hat or something, but it’ll do as an icebag. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/15 "2023-07-10T22:56:45Z")
Stay Puft Marshmallow Man hat. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/16 "2023-07-10T22:58:47Z")
Mind blown on my device. But icebag would help me out. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/17 "2023-07-11T00:38:05Z")
Actually, I think mind blown is correct on any device. Now that I zoom in I see the goop blasting upwards from the hole in the top of the head. The white is a cloud of smoke/steam. But I like my interpretation too. The Dope could certainly use an emoji for “WOW, do I have an amazing hangover or what?” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/18 "2023-07-11T00:46:24Z")
😶‍🌫️ How about this one? I dub thee hangover-head ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/19 "2023-07-11T02:09:04Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Was there evidence that Lewis was the poisoner or just an opportunist hoping to cash in with an extortion plot? I think there was a fair amount of circumstantial evidence developed over the years that he was the killer, but no real physical evidence directly linking him to it, so they never brought charges. It’s mentioned in the link, but maybe the closest they got was the fact that the extortion letter was postmarked October 1 (a fact they weren’t able to confirm until years later). In a sting operation in 2007, Lewis admitted it took 3 days to write the letter, which meant he started composing it on September 29 (the date the 7 victims were killed), but news of the murders only became public knowledge on September 30. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852/20 "2023-07-11T07:02:33Z")
I use the exploding head emoji for migraines. I have suffered migraines which absolutely blew off the top of my head, and splattered brains all over the ceiling. Now THAT is a disgusting mess to clean up!; ~VOW [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-in-1982-tylenol-murders-is-dead/986852.md?page=2)