After delving into the unsolved mystery surrounding JonBenét Ramsey’s death, Netflix plans to revisit another unsolved crime – the Tylenol murders.
The three-part film delves back into the instance where an everyday medication was transformed into a deadly menace, prompting significant changes in how medications are packaged, offering insights into this transformative case.
Watch Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders on Netflix now, as it includes firsthand accounts from people close to the murders and fresh testimonies.
Read on to learn more about the case.
What were the Tylenol murders?
1982 saw a series of fatalities due to drug contamination occurring within the Chicago metropolitan region.
In this incident, all victims shared a single similarity: they had taken Tylenol capsules tainted with high concentrations of potassium cyanide. This discovery sparked nationwide fear and initiated one of the most extensive criminal probes in American history.
Initially, it was 12-year-old Mary Kellerman who ended up in the hospital after consuming a Tylenol tablet to alleviate her throat discomfort. Regrettably, within a short span of time, she lost her life.
On the next day, it was these six individuals who fell ill from the tainted substance: Adam Janus (age 27), Stanley Janus (age 25), Theresa Janus (age 20), Mary McFarland (age 31), Paula Prince (age 35), and Mary Reiner (age 27). Tragically, each one of them subsequently passed away.
Following some unsettling events, I found myself closely monitoring all Tylenol products on store shelves and pharmacy counters. These items were promptly removed and shipped away for thorough testing to ensure their integrity. In response, the manufacturer initiated a widespread recall across the nation.
Johnson & Johnson, the makers of Tylenol, received praise for their handling of the situation, as they decided to compensate, albeit undisclosed, the affected families.
At the given time, Robert Kniffin, representing Johnson & Johnson, stated that they couldn’t foresee anyone criminally tampering with their product nor prevent such an incident. However, they felt compelled to take action to help the affected families and move past this unfortunate occurrence as quickly as possible.
Has anyone been convicted for the murders?
As of 2025, no one has been charged or convicted of the poisonings.
Who was James William Lewis?
Born in New York, James William Lewis admitted to orchestrating the poisonings and requested a ransom of $1 million from Johnson & Johnson.
However, Lewis was in fact not responsible and was convicted for extortion.
Lewis died at 76 years old in 2023, with his cause of death “not suspicious”.
Add “Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders” to your list of shows to watch on the TopMob: What to Watch application – a must-have for daily television suggestions, special features, and more. Download it today!
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2025-05-26 10:34