Tylenol Murders: A Look Back at a Chilling Case

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After watching The Tylenol Murders documentary on Netflix, I couldn't help but feel conflicted about the case. One aspect that stood out to me was the accusation of James Lewis in connection to the murders, which followed him until his death in 2023. While Lewis did admit to writing an extortion letter and committing other crimes, I found it intriguing that his life took a dramatic turn after the sudden loss of his 5-year-old daughter. As a parent and caregiver to a sick child, I can only imagine the impact that experience would have on someone's life.

The investigation into the murders raised several questions for me, particularly regarding the handling of the case and the evidence collected. The police's eagerness to convict Lewis of the murder of Raymond West, based on a bar of soap with blood and hair matching Lewis, was compromised when they failed to read him his Miranda rights. This led to the case being dropped.

I also found it interesting that Lewis's wife remained loyal to him throughout his imprisonment for the extortion letter. While she may have had information about the case, it's unclear whether she was thoroughly questioned by authorities.

The settlement paid to the victims' families by Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of Tylenol, suggests that there may have been some liability on their part. Additionally, the exposure of police officers to cyanide from the Tylenol pills a day before the murders raises further questions about the case.

The FBI still considers this an ongoing investigation, and I'm left wondering about the impact of the accusations on James Lewis's life. Despite his conviction for extortion, the cloud of suspicion surrounding the Tylenol murders seemed to follow him until the end of his life.

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😭The victims of the Tylenol murders in 1982 were: 

Mary Kellerman, 12

Adam Janus, 27

Stanley Janus, 25

Theresa Janus, 19

Mary McFarland, 31

Paula Prince, 35

Mary Reiner, 27

🙏🏾🫶🏾May the families affected by the Tylenol murders find peace and closure.🙏🏾🫶🏾