Suspect In Tylenol Murders Dead At 76, Had Long-Time Tax Ties

Last month, James W. Lewis died in Cambridge, Mass., of natural causes. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because the former tax preparer was a suspect, though never officially charged, in the infamous Tylenol poisoning murder cases. Seven people died from taking cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules in September of 1982.

The case captivated the country and forever changed how over-the-counter medicines are packaged and sold in the U.S. In response to the deaths, Johnson & Johnson
JNJ
ordered a nationwide recall of 31 million bottles of Tylenol. The company pulled its television commercials off the air and offered a reward for information related to the crimes.