The Tylenol Mafia (65 page)

The true number of recalled: McNeilab, Inc., Plaintiff v. North River Insurance Co. et al., Defendants, 645 F. Supp. 525, 543-45 (D.N.J.), September 17, 198.6

The genesis of the 31-million-bottle recall myth: United Press International. “Public Told to Be On Alert for Tampering.”
The Progress
, October 16, 1982.

Collins also used: United Press International. “Public Told to Be On Alert for Tampering.”
The Progress
, October 16, 1982.

The Proprietary Association was adamant that there should be no: New York Times News Service. “Over-counter drug safety is a priority.”
Wisconsin State journal
, October 6, 1982.

Although the public did not know it:
 
PR Newswire Association LLC. “Schering-Plough Healthcare President David Collins Elected Chairman of NDMA.”
PR News
, May 18, 1992

 
“The confidence of”:
 
Associated Press. “Contaminated Tylenol case may cost maker $75 million.”
Waterloo Courier
, October 7, 1982.

J&J President, David Clare, later commented:
 
Solomon, Robert C.
It’s good business: ethics and free enterprise for the new millennium
.
Rowman
& Littlefield Publishers Inc., 1997, p168-169.

Clare said that for a period of about 48 to 72 hours:
 
Solomon, Robert C.
It’s good business: ethics and free enterprise for the new millennium
.
Rowman
& Littlefield Publishers Inc. 1997, p168-169.

“
leads
us to believe strongly”:
 
Associated Press. “‘Madman’ sought in poisonings.” Wisconsin State Journal, October 2, 1982.

“We naturally wanted”:
 
Cooke, Jeremy R. “PSU alumnus recalls 1982 Tylenol murders.”
Collegian
, October 18, 2002.

“Plaintiff (J&J) itself admits”:
 
McNeilab, Inc., Plaintiff v. North River Insurance Co. et al., Defendants, 645 F. Supp. 525, 543-45 (D.N.J.), September 17, 1986.

The transcript in re: McNeilab Inc.:
 
McNeilab, Inc., Plaintiff v. North River Insurance Co. et al., Defendants, 645 F. Supp. 525, 543-45 (D.N.J.), September 17, 1986.

 
“[McNeil] and its parent (J&J):
 
McNeilab Inc.:
 
McNeilab, Inc., Plaintiff v. North River Insurance Co. et al., Defendants, 645 F. Supp. 525, 543-45 (D.N.J.), September 17, 1986.

Public relations expert, Jack O’Dwyer
:
 
O’Dwyer, Jack. “PR Industry’s Amicus Brief Has a Flaw.” ReclaimDemocracy.org. Accessed June 1, 2011.
http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/nike/pr_brief_retort_kasky_nike.html

 
16
    
The Other Cyanide Murders

On October 8, 1982:
 
Malcolm, Andrew H. “Wyoming cyanide death investigated.”
The New York Times
, October 9, 1982.

Sheridan County Coroner Jim Kane said the capsules weren’t suspected: Associated Press. “Tylenol suspected in Unsolved Cyanide Death in Wyoming,”
Syracuse Post Standard
, October 9, 1982.

Dr. William E. Doughty:
 
Malcolm, Andrew H. “Wyoming cyanide death investigated.”
The New York Times
, October 9, 1982.

Doughty asked the manager:
 
Malcolm, Andrew H. “Wyoming cyanide death investigated.”
The New York Times
, October 9, 1982.

A second analysis:
 
Malcolm, Andrew H. “Wyoming cyanide death investigated.”
The New York Times
, October 9, 1982.

The evidence “as it stands:
 
Malcolm, Andrew H. “Wyoming cyanide death investigated.”
The New York Times
, October 9, 1982.

If the link through the distributor is confirmed: Malcolm, Andrew H. “Wyoming cyanide death investigated.”
The New York Times
, October 9, 1982.

When the Chicago detective:
 
Associated Press. “Cyanide probe narrowed to 3 or 4 primary leads.”
The Galveston Daily News
, October 11, 1982.

In addition to the cyanide:
 
Madrzyk
, Anna; Gores, Paul.
 
“Cyanide Killer Search Widens.”
The Sunday Herald
, October 3, 1982.

Acetaminophen is second only:
Ionescu
, DN; Janssen, JK;
Omalu
.
“Final Diagnosis -- Acute Combined Drug Overdose of Ethanol, Acetaminophen,
Imipramine
,
Desipramine
,
Oxycodone
and
Diphenhydramine
,” University of Pennsylvania School of Pathology website.
Accessed July 20, 2011.
http://path.upmc.edu/cases/case407/dx.html

On January 13, 1983:
 
“Drug death probes reopened.”
The Daily Herald
: January 13, 1983

 
“The defense was saying”:
 
Baden, Michael M.
Unnatural Death: Confessions of a Medical Examiner
. New York:
Ballantine
Books, 1990.

 
“
because
of the close proximity”:
 
“Drug death probes reopened.”
The Daily Herald
: January 13, 1983.

 
“We are continuing these investigations”:
 
“Drug death probes reopened.”
The Daily Herald
, January 13, 1983.

Toxicology tests had found both cyanide and acetaminophen: United Press International. “Excedrin removed from Colorado stores.” The Hutchinson News, October 27, 1982

Yet
Jaye
Schroeder, a Chicago police spokesperson:
 
United Press International. “Excedrin removed from Colorado stores.”
The Hutchinson News
, October 27, 1982.

One day later, Kathryn:
 
“Early Cyanide Death Not Tied to Tylenol, Authorities Believe
.” The New York Times
, October 28, 1982.

Dr.
Mitra
Kalelkar
, the Assistant Medical Examiner: “Early Cyanide Death Not Tied to Tylenol, Authorities Believe.”
New York Times
, October 28, 1982.

Husted and Louis Tedesco:
 
United States of America, Plaintiff-
appellee
, v. Louis Tedesco, Defendant-appellant.
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.
- 726 F.2d 1216,

Mark Husted had recently:
 
“Federal agents probe death of drug dealer.”
The Daily Herald
, September 17, 1982.

Mark Husted had flown: Mark Husted family members.
Telephone interview by author, February 16, 2010.

Tedesco told police:
 
“Federal agents probe death of drug dealer.”
The Daily Herald
, September 17, 1982.

Agents from the DEA:
 
“Federal agents probe death of drug dealer.”
The Daily Herald
, September 17, 1982.

 
“
a
feeling that his son may have been murdered.”:
 
“Federal agents probe death of drug dealer.”
The Daily Herald
, September 17, 1982.

Members of Mark Husted’s family: Mark Husted family members.
Telephone interview by author, February 16, 2010.

 
“
ate
Tylenol like candy”: Mark Husted family members.
Telephone interview by author, February 16, 2010.

In the fall of 1982, Cook County: “Drug death probes reopened.”
The Daily Herald
, January 13, 1983.

At that time, authorities:
 
Malcolm, Andrew H.: “100 Agents Hunt for Killer in 7 Tylenol.” The New York Times, October 3, 1982. -- “Federal agents probe death of drug dealer.” The Daily Herald, September 17, 1982. -- United Press International. “Excedrin removed from Colorado stores.” The Hutchinson News, October 27, 1982.A review of local Illinois newspapers:
 
“Federal agents probe death of drug dealer.”
The Daily Herald
, September 17, 1982.

17
           
A Poisoned Investigation

One day after J&J had announced: USA, Plaintiff-
Appellee
, v. James William Lewis, Defendant-Appellant. No. 84-2011. US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit,
May
31, 1985.

Seven days after:
“Cyanide-Tylenol Extortion Hoax Suspect Was Indicted for Murder.”
Syracuse Post Standard
, October 15, 1982.

James Lewis was born: Lewis, James. Email interview by author, re:
Aljeev
International, July 31, 2010. -- Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.

James grew up: James, Lewis. Email, re: The Tylenol Speculation Drawing documents. March 8, 2008.

On December 4:
 
738 F.2d 91 USA,
Appellee
, v. James W. Lewis, Appellant. No. 83-1947 US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, January 26, 1984.

In January 1982:
 
797 F.2d 358 21 Fed. R.
Evid
.
Serv. 225 USA, Plaintiff-
Appellee
, v. James William Lewis, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 84-2011. US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit,
May
31, 1985.

On September 6:
 
Beck, Melinda; Foote, Donna; Michael, Renee; Shannon, Elaine.
“The Tylenol Manhunt.”
Newsweek
, November 1, 1982.

When the Tylenol murders made: USA, Plaintiff-
Appellee
, v. James William Lewis, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 84-2011. US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit,
May
31, 1985.

 
“
they’d
work [McCahey] up one side and down the other and figure out what a horrible white-collar criminal he was”: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.

 
“There's nothing special about James Lewis:
Janota
, Laura. “'Prime suspect' still maintains innocence.”
Daily Herald,
September 27, 1992.

 
“I’m in the business”: Avila, Oscar. “Tylenol murders linger in shadows.”
Chicago Tribune
, September 29, 2002.

Cook County Toxicologist, Michael Schaffer, said the cyanide: Beck, Melinda; Hagar, Mary;
LaBreque
, Ron; Monroe, Sylvester;
Prout
, Linda.
“The Tylenol Scare.”
Newsweek
, October 11, 1982.

On October 21, 1982, a J&J employee: United Press International. “More Poisoned Tylenol Discovered In Chicago.”
Pharos-Tribune
, October 22, 1982.

A bottle of cyanide-laced Extra Strength:
Cialini
, Joe. “Death from cyanide linked to Tylenol.”
The Progres
s, October 7, 1982.

To find out when and where:
 
Associated Press.
 
“Suspects Studied in Cyanide Deaths.”
Casa Grande Dispatc
h, October 4, 1982.

Stein said that after the cyanide had been in the test capsules for 48 hours:
Litke
, James. “Cyanide kills Philadelphian.”
The Gettysburg Times
, October 7, 1982.

 
“We’re giving out what we feel we can”: Cohen, Sharon.
“Citizens Turning in Capsules.”
The Post Standard
: October 3, 1982.

On October 9, 1982, Stein said:
 
United Press International.
“Suspect List Cut to Four.”
Pharos-Tribune
, October 10, 1982.

Instead of acknowledging the relevance of Stein’s findings, Fahner sharply criticized: United Press International.
“Suspect List Cut to Four.”
Pharos-Tribune
, October 10, 1982.