The Tylenol Mafia (82 page)

A drug’s shelf life: CFR Title 21, Sec. 211.166 (Stability testing).

 
“Under room temperature”: “Tylenol Professional Product Information.”
Tylenol website, 2010.
Accessed June 20, 2011.
http://www.tylenolprofessional.com/assets/TYL_PPI.pdf

The source of this stability data: Fairbrother J. Acetaminophen. New York, NY: Academic Press; 1974.

The three–year shelf life of Tylenol was mentioned in February 1986: Inquirer Wire Service (with contribution from Michael B.
Coakley
).
“Cyanide in Tylenol; Woman Dead.”
Inquirer
, February 11, 1986.

In October of 1982, Dean Mickelson, a pharmacist at the Revco drugstore: “Pharmacies pull drug,”
The Taos News
: Oct 7, 1982.

An FOIA request was filed with the FDA:
Konigstein
, David. Response to FOIA Request, File 2011-4678, July 26, 2011.

In 1973, the DOD: “SLEP - The
DoD
/FDA Shelf Life Extension Program.”
Accessed July 10, 2011.
https://slep.dmsbfda.army.mil/portal/page/portal/SLEP_PAGE_GRP/SLEP_HOME_NEW

On July 1, 1975, the FDA: “MOU 224-76-8049: Memorandum of Understanding
Between
The Veterans Administration and The Food and Drug Administration.” June 12, 1975.

Throughout the 1980s, the DOD: DOD Contract with McNeil Consumer Products Company, Round Rock, Texas, Contract number LA12082 C0776, May 1982. – DOD (Air force) Contract with McNeil Consumer Products Co., Glendale, California, Contract number SA13H 77 50158, Fiscal year 1980.

At the time of the Tylenol murders: United Press International. “Kansans told not to use Tylenol.”
Salina Journal
, October 3, 1982.

“We’re yanking it.”: Associated Press. “Extra Strength Tylenol off shelves in Kansas.”
The Iola Register
, October 2, 1982.

Public Affairs Officer, Jane Wray: United Press International. “Kansans told not to use Tylenol.”
Salina Journal
, October 3, 1982.

Air Force officials discovered: Trimmer, Dwight. “Refunds Offered on Tylenol Products.”
Pacific Stars and Stripes
, October 15, 1982.

Drug diversion was a big problem: GAO. “FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HHS Inspector General Should Be Involved in Criminal Investigations.”
Report to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, November 1987.
– Associated Press.
“7 Ohio drug companies being probed.”
Chronicle-Telegram
, September 16, 1985.

Diverters actively sought out: Associated Press. “'Drug diversion' is $1B business
.” Pacific Stars and Stripes
, August 10, 1985. -- Associated Press. “'Shadow' drug market detailed.” 1986. -- Kenyon,
Quane
. “Drugs
Worth
$380,000 On Street Missing
AtSHS
.”
Idaho State Journal
, October 30, 1977.

I am writing to alert: Patterson, George.
“Dear Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) 65 IB Contractor.”
VA Acquisition Center, Hines, IL, January 9, 2001.

From 1975 to 1982: GAO. “Fraud in Government Programs: Volume 1.”
Report to Congress, May 7, 1981.
– GAO. “Inventory Management: Problems in Accountability and Security of DOD Supply Inventories.” Briefing Report to the Honorable Pete Wilson, U.S. Senate, May 1986. – GAO. “More Effective Internal Controls Needed To Prevent Fraud And Waste In Military Exchanges.”
Report to the Congress of the United States, December 31, 1980.

“In our opinion, the failure to identify causes and prevent recurrence of reported”: GAO.
“Defense’s System for Handling Material Shipping Discrepancies Needs Improvements.”
June 10, 1982.

According to a March 19, 1982 GAO report: GAO.
“Review of Prices Paid by Military Commissaries on Brand Name Vendor Supply Bulletin Contracts (PLRD-82-55).”
March 19, 1982.

Their only valid suspect, Roger Arnold:
Nightly News
, NBC, October 25, 1982.

In a nine-page synopsis: Marx, Gary; Mills, Steve. Tylenol case revisited.
Chicago Tribune
, February 8, 2009.

 
“One of the most”: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/tylenol-killings-a-bitter-pill/Content?oid=903786

“
a
soldier of fortune type guy”: United Press.
“Cyanide Suspect Released On Bail.”
Tyrone Daily
, October 14, 1982.

In the 1970s and 1980s,
posse comitatus
groups:
Levitas
, Daniel.
The Terrorist Next Door
.
New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2002.

Arnold’s literature included:
Nightly News
. NBC, October 13, 1982. -- Associated Press. “Police question ‘chemist’ in cyanide-deaths case.”
The New Mexican
, October 13, 1982.

In September of 1981: Coates, James. Plot to Poison Water Is Charged.”
Chicago Tribune
, February 28, 1988.

“Here, you’ll need this.”: “Racists Detail Plot to Form an ‘Aryan Nation.’”
New York Times
, February 28, 1988.

In June 1982, more than 1,000: Anti-Defamation League. “Paranoia as Patriotism: Far-Right Influences on the Militia Movement.”
NCJRS website, 1995.
Accessed July 7, 2011.
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=158514
. --
Morrison, Donald.
“Festival of the Fed-Up.”
TIME website, November 15, 1979.
Accessed July 1, 2011.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,912495-1,00.html

Since 1971, John “Johnny Bob” Harrell had hosted these annual freedom festivals: Morrison, Donald.
“Festival of the Fed-Up.”
TIME website, November 15, 1979.
Accessed July 1, 2011.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,912495-1,00.html

Just prior to the Tylenol: United Press International.
“Police Arrest Suspect in Tylenol Case.”
The Progress
: October 13, 1982 - Associated Press. “Man Questioned in Cyanide Deaths.”
Dispatch
, October 13, 1982.

Arnold was four days away from leaving the country: United Press.
“Cyanide Suspect Released On Bail.”
Tyrone Daily
, October 14, 1982.

Under Title 21 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations: CFR Title 21
PART
211

“Either capsules were missing, or some other medication was mixed in or there were foreign objects”: Associated Press. “Families of poisoning victims can sue Tylenol, judge rules.”
Syracuse Herald-Journal
, September 13, 1990.

46
           
The Madman

Just days before the deaths: Moore, Thomas.
“The Fight to Save Tylenol.”
TIME
, November 29, 1982. -- “New Hall of Fame Members”
Fenwick Magazine,
Spring
2003, p. 12.

Also in September of 1982, Johnson & Johnson: Aguilar, Francis J.;
Bhambri
,
Arvind
: “Johnson & Johnson (B): Hospital Services.”
Harvard Business School Publishing, 1983.

a
longtime proponent of decentralization: Aguilar, Francis J.;
Bhambri
,
Arvind
: “Johnson & Johnson (A): Philosophy and Culture.”
Harvard Business School Publishing, 1983.

 
“We had been marveling”: Moore, Thomas.
“The Fight to Save Tylenol.”
TIME
, November 29, 1982.

 
“I did worry”:
Cimons
, Marlene; Jackson, Robert L. “Latest Tylenol Poisoning: A Nightmare Comes True.”
LA Times
, February 23, 1986.

FDA Commissioner, George Larrick”: Associated Press.
“Cites Firm’s Secrecy on Drug’s Harm.”
The Des Moines Register
, April 29, 1964.

When Johnson & Johnson executives took: Weiser, Benjamin; Walsh, Elsa.
“Drug Firm’s Strategy: Avoid Trial, Ask Secrecy.”
The Washington Post
, October 25, 1988.

A study that J&J was conducting: Mintz, Morton. “Drug fiends: even inside Johnson & Johnson, public safety can take a back seat to profits.”
Washington Monthly
, December 1991.

More recently, Johnson & Johnson knew:
Willman
, David. “How a New Policy Led to Seven Deadly Drugs
.” LA Times
, December, 20, 2000.

J&J executives said the Tylenol involved in the 1982: Beck, Melinda; Hagar, Mary;
LaBreque
, Ron; Monroe, Sylvester;
Prout
, Linda.
“The Tylenol Scare.”
Newsweek
, October 11, 1982. -- Associated Press. “Cyanide Madman Sought.”
The Titusville Herald
, October 2, 1982. -- Associated Press. “Sixth Victim Claimed By Cyanide Pills.”
Bedford Gazette
, October 2, 1982.

Larry Foster said J&J: Associated Press. “Cyanide Found in Tylenol.”
Wisconsin State Journal
, October 2, 1982.

 
“They were principally interested”:
ABC World News Tonight
. ABC, October 6, 1982.

“People started calling yesterday”:
Maroney
, David.
 
“Logan Shelves Being Emptied.”
Pharos Tribune
, October 1, 1982.

When McNeil executives made those urgent: Beck, Melinda; Hagar, Mary;
LaBreque
, Ron; Monroe, Sylvester;
Prout
, Linda.
“The Tylenol Scare.”
Newsweek
.
October 11, 1982 --
Nenni
, Pete; Van
Wye
, Joann.
“5 dead after taking Tylenol capsules filled with cyanide.”
The Daily Herald
, October 1, 1982. -- Flock, Jeff.
CNN-News.
September 30, 1982.

The FDA and the FBI confirmed: Associated Press. “FDA: Don’t Take Tylenol.”
Maryville Journal-Tribune
, February 14, 1986. - Norman, Michael. “FBI Finds No Tampering with Packaging of Tylenol.”
The
New York Times
, February 19, 1986. -
Washington Post
.
“A Puzzle for Investigators.”
The Post Standard
, February 15, 1986.

Following the 1986 tampering incident: Norman, Michael.
“FBI is assigning Tylenol inquiry ‘highest priority.’”
The New York Times
, February 15, 1986. -- Associated Press. “Cyanide Madman Sought.”
The Titusville Herald
, October 2, 1982. -- Washington Post.
“A Puzzle for Investigators.”
The Post Standard
, February 15, 1986. -- McFadden, Robert D. “Two bottles of poisoned Tylenol were shipped by same distributor.”
New York Times
, February 16, 1986. -- “FDA Witnesses Destruction of Drug Products.”
FDA website, June 28, 2001.
Accessed July 20, 2011.
http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/EnforcementStory/EnforcementStoryArchive/ucm107058.htm

The FBI put an end to Carl Vergari’s investigation: Norman, Michael. “Bottle Tampering Found.”
The New
York Times
, February 27, 1986.

He pled guilty on January 22, 1998: “Guilty Plea of Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski Court document SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.
Eskimo.com website, January 22, 1998.
Accessed July 1, 2011.
http://www.eskimo.com/~rarnold/guilty.htm

In a Motion for Retention: “Motion for retention of evidence.”
Case 2:96-cr-00259-GEN-GGH Document 806.
Eastern District of California, May 9, 2011.

FBI spokesperson Ross Rice: Savage, Charlie. “FBI is looking at Unabomber in Tylenol case.”
The New York Times
, May 19, 2011.