Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders

Michelle Rosen, daughter of one of the victims, suspects Johnson & Johnson of accidentally lacing Tylenol with cyanide. J&J lying about possessing cyanide, keeping it within close proximity of production of Tylenol suggests that this is possible. J&J itself seems to aware of this by testing a portion of and subsequently destroying the product.

But if this were an issue why didn't pop up before then? The argument that accidental cyanide poisoning was somehow missed isn't real convincing. People would have noticed other people dropping dead after taking Tylenol. More than just old people take Tylenol.

There is no evidence that Tylenol was tainted in that factories where it was produced.

Meanwhile we have James Lewis, a man accused of murder and rape and who served time for extortion. For reasons not explained the murder case against him is dropped. All we know is that he fled Chicago just after Raymond West's death.

There is no evidence that Lewis laced Tylenol bottles with cyanide. There is no evidence that he even possessed cyanide.

The testing of medication and subsequent destruction of 22 million pills, while responsible behavior, does also hint at concerns about possible contamination. The last death occurring 4 years later further strengthens this suspicion.

On one hand we have a corporation, institutions well known for covering up blunders. But on the other we have what appears to be a psychopathic criminal. Both parties seem adept at covering their tracks based on their respective histories.

I remember the Tylenol cyanide murders from 1982 mostly as a PR case study, how Johnson & Johnson's response became the gold standard in crisis communication. But this tight 3-part Netflix docuseries goes deeper, putting faces to the eight innocent victims and examining the mystery that still hasn't been solved. It's horrifying to realize that something as routine as taking a pain reliever could lead to such gruesome deaths, and even more shocking that tamper-resistant packaging didn't exist before this. The series maintains a steady sense of dread while exploring possible suspects and theories, though it ultimately leaves you with the same uncertainty investigators still face. Insightful and unsettling, it's a fascinating look at how a random act of terror changed the way we shop for medicine and how justice remains elusive more than 40 years later.

Once again, the FBI lets emotion override evidence, a pattern that keeps showing up in U. S. true crime cases from the '80s and '90s. As a European, I'm stunned by how unprofessional it often feels. Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders is brilliantly made, and I truly felt for the man accused based on something as flimsy as a letter. This is a must-watch for true crime fans. But if you can't see the innocence in his eyes, that's not his problem.

Even the best camera can't mask his eyes. He doesn't carry guilt... he carries the weight of a system that prefers quick answers over real truth. So, this is a must watch!

If you're into conspiracy theories and prefer mystery over truth, this one's for you.

But if you're more grounded in reality, you'll likely find this series built around sensationalism rather than substance. Despite revisiting one of America's most infamous unsolved cases, the show offers no real conclusion.

Honestly, I wish production companies like Netflix would include a clear disclosure when a documentary lacks a widely accepted conclusion. Otherwise, you might spend three hours watching just to realize you've learned nothing definitive. It's frustrating when a show builds so much tension without providing any real payoff or meaningful insight.

The docudrama skipped over all the other products that were tainted with cyanide, not connected with J&J. There were other states involved. Little mention was made of copycat possibilities, though this was known to have occurred. There was no mention of the investigations in these other suspects, including those involving Ted Kaczynski. Lab chemicals 500 feet from manufacturing seem like a large separation, not a small one. I would like to have seen a Netflix investigation into the retail and wholesale parts of the product chain. I don't recall if the murder in Kansas City was ever solved or if that was dropped. Certainly, the issue was left dangling, leaving the viewer to jump to conclusions.