Unsolved Tylenol Mass Murder | True Crime Recaps

In the 1980s, a mysterious wave of deaths swept over Chicago. One by one, multiple people began complaining about similar symptoms with an unknown cause. When numerous people started dropping dead, investigators figured out that ordinary bottles of Tylenol had been turned into lethal weapons…

The Tylenol murders of the 80s, were one of the most horrifying mass murders you’ve probably never even heard of.

And up until this day, no one has ever been caught or convicted for the heinous crimes…

Stay tuned for today’s episode of True Crime Recaps where we’ll be uncovering this shocking case.

#UnsolvedCrimes #MassMurder #TrueCrime

⏱️CHAPTERS⏱️

00:00 - 00:44 - Intro
00:44 - 11:10 - Victims of Tylenol Murders
11:10 - 16:12 - James Lewis
16:12 - 17:13 - Aftermath
17:13 - 17:38 - Outro

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[TrueCrimeRecaps]

We will never look at Tylenol in the same way again! Do you think that James Lewis was actually responsible for these unforgivable crimes?

[belindaf]

Because of the Tylenol case, all the medicine bottles added safety measures. Even food products did the same. I will never forget this case.

[RobinHood-]

I remember when this happened. It was pretty scary. They released lot numbers of the product not to use, but I threw my Tylenol away anyways. Another incident that changed America.

[joebondo]

I’m a Chicagoan and will never forget this tragic story. However, the Tylenol murders overshadowed another story that happened around the same time in Chicagoland, The Ripper Crew. The Ripper Crew consisted of 4 men who were a satanic cult of serial killers who killed 18 people (mostly women) in the Chicagoland area between 1981-1982. What they did to many of their victims is too graphic to note. They were all eventually apprehended. One was executed, two are still in prison and believe it or not, one was actually released in 2019.

[carolc]

I've heard of this story a few times but NEVER knew the person wasn't caught. Crazy

[Sassy-Southerner]

I remember this happening and my parents made sure all the Tylenol was out of the house! My mom wouldn’t ever buy Tylenol again! Scary to say the least!

[rachealsmith]

I remember when all this happened. Everybody was afraid to take painkiller for a headache like Tylenol. We barely took an aspirin! Nice recap. What’s really funny is to think my children have never known life without medicine and food packaging safety precautions. Take care and blessings!

[jaex]

I was a kid in Chicago at the time. This was so urgent that I heard of it when a supermarket manager made a public service announcement over the store’s PA. People were trying to get the message out by every means available. I don't know whether it was something official or he was doing out of a personal desire to prevent any more tragedies. Of course it was all over the media as well. People were quite panicked.

[scotcrazy]

I remember this well when it happened. I was a 22yo RN, and we were frantic in the hospital. It was truly terrifying.

[lisadaniel]

I remember this well. I was 14, living in Northern Ontario. Tylenol was removed from shelves in Canada, too. Everyone disposed of what they had. It was terrifying.

[MK-Hogan]

When this happened, the FBI came to my house and interviewed my stepfather. He wasn’t my stepfather for long and to this day I don’t know what they asked him or discussed with him but he never got in trouble or anything after that, that I know of. 😬 They didn’t let my mom stay in the room while they spoke with him and I was a pretty young kid. She shielded me from it and told me about it later. We lived in Oak Park, right on the edge of Chicago. Pretty crazy.

[tessyredding]

I did think of this the other day while struggling to open a medicine bottle. I was 16 when this happened, it was scary, it wasn’t something we could grasp then. I had no clue there were cameras in stores then, that had to be extremely expensive. Great take on an old case

[kyledamron]

Another great episode. Chris, have you heard of the Colorado hammer murders of 1984? It's a crazy spree that I've not seen on many channels and they just this year arrested a suspect.

[jamestnov]

Well done Chris. I remember this case vividly. In fact it took many years for the company product to become popular again. Despite the pd efforts this mass murderer is still at large.

[DizzyedUpGirl]

Helen saved so many lives. And good on J&J for doing the right thing.

[glendastevenson]

I was in my 20's when this happened, and I used Tylenol. It was a scary time indeed. I'm glad they improved the packaging for safety, but sometimes you almost need a chainsaw to open up products. Not just over the counter meds.

[kavitadeva]

Hi Chris. Yeah I remember this whole situation with the Tylenol and people freaking out and then they changed the labeling laws after that whole situation. very scary. But I think it was very smart of the woman whoever she is either a doctor or whatever, anyways for her to think that it was a medication that was killing this family, that she was able to pick up on it and the way the cyanide part came in I think it was pretty brilliant that they even figured it out. Thank you very much for a very interesting case. Have a good night and say hi to Amy.

[VTPSTTU]

I remember this case. I had forgotten that they never officially caught the killer. I can remember buying aspirin that didn't have the protective seals.

[SPK-oprr]

This is so crazy…so close to home. I’m 44, I don’t recall ever hearing about this so it before my time. Anyway, I grew up in Lombard, my paternal grandparents and aunt all worked at Illinois Bell. The building is still there. In my early 20’s, I had an apartment in Elk Grove Village.

[pucmahone]

Chris, I remember this story very well.
It’s the reason why, I still to this day, have never taken any kind of medication that wasn’t prepared by a pharmacist.