IL IL - Chicago Tylenol Murders: 7 people dead from cyanide poisoning, 1982

[Kell1]

Correct. Johnson & Johnson says they tested millions of capsules (I want to say it was 6.5 mil) while FDA/law enforcement did the rest of the testing (1.5 mil capsules).

No one else did testing of the capsules before they were all destroyed.

They investigated themselves, and we all know exactly how problematic that is.

Right, i mean why destroy any potential evidence unless you are involved

 

[Betty P]

Correct. Johnson & Johnson says they tested millions of capsules (I want to say it was 6.5 mil) while FDA/law enforcement did the rest of the testing (1.5 mil capsules).

No one else did testing of the capsules before they were all destroyed.

They investigated themselves, and we all know exactly how problematic that is.

I wonder which ones the FDA tested? Were they a sample from both production facilities or just one? How much information about the investigation is still on file?

What’s the likelihood there were contaminated capsules distributed in areas besides Chicago? It seems unlikely , but hard to say. If contaminated product shipped elsewhere, there should have been some reports of people being poisoned or contaminated product found. It all happened very quickly, within hours or a day. Was it ever determined how long

Chicago area may have been the only place affected. If so, that seems relevant.

 

[Kell1]

I wonder which ones the FDA tested? Were they a sample from both production facilities or just one? How much information about the investigation is still on file?

What’s the likelihood there were contaminated capsules distributed in areas besides Chicago? It seems unlikely , but hard to say. If contaminated product shipped elsewhere, there should have been some reports of people being poisoned or contaminated product found. It all happened very quickly, within hours or a day. Was it ever determined how long

Chicago area may have been the only place affected. If so, that seems relevant.

Possibly there's also the chance there were many more deaths that weren't discovered. Cyanide deaths if not observed can to a point resemble other medical issues, first its not that obvious , but becomes more obvious later in stages of livor mortis as the pooling blood will appear bright red instead of the usual darker color

If toxicology tests werent performed its not impossible the deaths were attributed to other causes

 

[333_OnlyHalfEvil]

Possibly there's also the chance there were many more deaths that weren't discovered. Cyanide deaths if not observed can to a point resemble other medical issues, first its not that obvious , but becomes more obvious later in stages of livor mortis as the pooling blood will appear bright red instead of the usual darker color

If toxicology tests werent performed its not impossible the deaths were attributed to other causes

I had not thought of that, but people with known medical conditions and/or elderly people could have died and no one realized it was from the Tylenol they took. Yikes.