The Tylenol Mafia (67 page)

In 1982, Zahn Drug operated a state-of-the-art:
 
Angell, William M. “Material Handling Classics.”
 
Small Parts
Orderpicking
, 1980 Automated Material Handling Storage Systems Conference. Clay Bernard Systems International, April 23-25, 1980.

The capacity of the system: Angell, William M. “Material Handling Classics.”
 
Small Parts
Orderpicking
, 1980 Automated Material Handling Storage Systems Conference. Clay Bernard Systems International, April 23-25, 1980.

The video footage shown:
 
ABC-News. ABC, October 6, 1982. -- ABC Nightline, ABC, October 1, 1982.

Zahn Drug also employed merchandisers: “Drug store joins network.”
The Herald
, December 12, 1974.

Managers at Jewel stores told NBC-News:
Nightly News
, NBC: October 8, 1982.

The 165,000 stores that sold Tylenol nationwide: Reis, Al; Trout, Jack.
Marketing Warfare
.
New York City: The McGraw Hill Companies, 2006, Pg. 62.

Zahn Drug served 1,400 drugstores:
 
Associated Press. “Hearing for two accused in kidnap delayed two days.”
Winona Daily News
, July 3, 1973.

The company had formed a network: “Medical info card available.”
Forrest Park Review
, October 12, 1977, p19. -- “Drug store joins network.”
The Herald
, December 12, 1974.

The Family Drug Center (FDC) stores were located:
 
“Medical info card available.”
Forrest Park Review
, October 12, 1977, p19. -- “Zahn Drug links with
Familycare
.”
The Daily Herald
, August 24, 1981.

On the morning Johnson & Johnson:
Maroney
, David.
 
“Logan Shelves Being Emptied.”
Pharos Tribune
, October 1, 1982.

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

 
“It’s our strong belief that the contaminated product”: Associated Press. “More poison is found in Tylenol pills.”
The Chronicle-Telegram
, October 1, 1982.

The calls to Kesling were not made:
Maroney
, David.
 
“Logan Shelves Being Emptied.”
Pharos Tribune
, October 1, 1982.

Chicago pharmacist, Robert
Wijas
:
 
ABC World News Tonight
. ABC, October 6, 1982.

In addition to the close attention paid: Montgomery, Jeff. “Tylenol Removed From Area Stores.”
Altoona Mirror
, October 2, 1982.

 
“They [McNeil] checked us three times:
 
Montgomery, Jeff. “Tylenol Removed From Area Stores.”
Altoona Mirror
, October 2, 1982.

 
“I think
they
”:
 
Montgomery, Jeff. “Tylenol Removed From Area Stores.”
Altoona Mirror
, October 2, 1982.

While McNeil representatives were:
Rutenberg
, Sharon. “Pill Poisonings Lead to Tylenol Recall.”
The Progress
, October 1, 1982. -- Associated Press. “FDA issues warning about Tylenol danger.”
The Chillicothe Constitution
, October 1, 1982.

Around the same time J&J officials: ABC Nightline, ABC,
October
1, 1982.

In October 1963, a truck loaded with $250,000: Lindberg, Richard C. “Raising Cain.”
RichardLindberg.net, 2002.
http://www.richardlindberg.net/articles/reader_article.html

Cain’s story sounded suspicious:
 
Associated Press. “Cook Sheriff’s Aides Convicted of Perjury.”
Southern Illinoisan
, December 9, 1964.

Another puzzling crime:
 
United Press International.
“Drug firm chief kidnap possible.”
The Morgantown W.VA Post
, June 29, 1973.

Zahn’s kidnappers moved:
 
Chicago Daily News. “Kidnap Drama Ends In Joy, Raises Mysteries”
Charleston Daily Mail
, June 6, 1973.

 
“The family is only”:
 
United Press International.
“Drug firm chief kidnap possible
.”
The Morgantown W.VA Post
, June 29, 1973.

 
“Of course we will”:
 
United Press International.
“Drug firm chief kidnap possible.”
The Morgantown W.VA Post
, June 29, 1973.

 
“
is
integral to the case”:
 
Chicago Daily News. “Kidnap Drama Ends In Joy, Raises Mysteries”
Charleston Daily Mail
, June 6, 1973.

Ferris and Calhoun plead guilty:
 
Associated Press. “Innocent Pleas Are Reversed.”
Edwardsville Intelligencer
, September 21, 1983.

On April 6, 1987, Art Walker:
 
“Driver Convicted Of Theft
Of
Drugs.”
The Chicago Tribune
, April 7, 1987.

On December 9, 1992, William R. Deacon:
 
“Cosmopolitan Chronology.”
Chicago Sun-Times
, April 23, 1993.

Zahn Drug also had a history:
 
Gores, Paul.
 
“Gacy above suspicion: drug owners.”
The Daily Herald
, December 27, 1978.

He also had a secret history:
 
I Do Horrible Rotten Things.”
TIME
, January 8, 1979.

“Kiss my ass”:
 
Elder, Robert K.
Last Words of the Executed
.
University Of Chicago Press, 2010.

Prior to Gacy’s arrest:
 
Ramsland
, Katherine “The Chicago Rippers.” Trutv.com. Accessed January 11, 2011.
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/partners/chicago_rippers/index.html

the
Chicago Rippers:
 
Ramsland
, Katherine “The Chicago Rippers.” Trutv.com. Accessed January, 11 2011.
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/partners/chicago_rippers/index.html

Gecht took the witness stand:
 
Ramsland
, Katherine “The Chicago Rippers.” Trutv.com. Accessed January, 11 2011.
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/partners/chicago_rippers/index.html

Spreitzer’s
execution was commuted:
 
Ramsland
, Katherine “The Chicago Rippers.” Trutv.com. Accessed January, 11 2011.
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/partners/chicago_rippers/index.html

There is a continuum:
 
McKesson Plants to Add FoxMeyer Health unit.”
The New York Times
, October 5, 1996. -- “Drug company acquires Zahn.”
The Daily Herald
, August 27, 1988.

McKesson was the sole supplier: McKesson Corp. “McKesson, American Drug Stores ink supply management pact.”
 
July 20, 1998.
Accessed January, 11 2011.
http://www.mckesson.com/en_us/McKesson.com/About%2BUs/Newsroom/Newsroom.html

 
“We’ve had the Illinois Department of Law Enforcement”:
 
ABC World News Tonight
. ABC, October 6, 1982.

At that time, the only two bottles of cyanide-laced Tylenol recovered so far had been purchased at the Jewel-Osco stores: Beck, Melinda; Hagar, Mary;
LaBreque
, Ron; Monroe, Sylvester;
Prout
, Linda.
“The Tylenol Scare.”
Newsweek
, October 11, 1982.

20
          
We Know Who Did It

In the first few days: Associated Press. “Cyanide is Discovered in Tylenol in an April Death in Philadelphia.”
The New York Times
, October 7, 1982.

On Tuesday, October 5th:
 
United Press International. “Philadelphia Cyanide Link Not Solid: Top Investigator.”
Pharos-Tribune
, October 7, 1982.

“
the
list of suspects has been narrowed”:
 
United Press International. “Philadelphia Cyanide Link Not Solid: Top Investigator.”
Pharos-Tribune
, October 7, 1982.

Fahner was back in the numbers game:
 
United Press International. “Tylenol poisoning probe narrowed to 4 suspects.”
Pacific Stars and Stripes
, October 11, 1982.

By the end of that day:
 
Associated Press. “Cyanide probe narrowed down to just a few leads.”
Wisconsin State Journal
, October 11, 1982.

Fahner said six suspects:
 
“Chicago lie tests clear 6.”
Chicago Sun Times
, October 27, 1982.

“
Me
and my gang put cyanide in every bottle”:
 
Associated Press. “No progress made in Tylenol deaths.”
The Gettysburg Press
, October 12, 1982.

Howard, a 20-year-old:
 
United Press International. “Chicago man hit for extortion; laced Tylenol link is ruled out.”
Pacific Stars and Stripes
, October 12, 1982.

 
“There is no credible”:
 
Associated Press. “No progress made in Tylenol deaths.”
The Gettysburg Press
, October 12, 1982.

Fahner said the Howard case was “unrelated totally”:
 
United Press International. “Chicago man hit for extortion; laced Tylenol link is ruled out.”
Pacific Stars and Stripes
, October 12, 1982.

The Winfield police will not confirm: Watkins, Scott.
Personal Interview by author, August 19, 2010.
- Watkins, Scott.
Personal interview by Michelle Rosen, March 12, 2010.
– Bellisario, Frank.
Personal interview by Michelle Rosen, March 2010.
– Samuels, Sharon. FOIA request reply, June 16, 2011.

However, on March 9, 2010. Watkins, Scott: Personal Interview by author, August 19, 2010.

“We know who did
it
.”: Associated Press. “Report says investigators know identity of Tylenol murderer.”
Alton Telegraph
, March 10, 1983.

On October 8th, NBC had led: Nightly News. NBC, October 8, 1982.

James Polk, reporting for NBC in Chicago: Nightly News. NBC, October 8, 1982.

 
“This is the case, “Investigators think Winfield”: Nightly News. NBC, October 8, 1982.

21
           
The Closet Chemist

On Saturday evening, October 9th: “Why Tylenol deaths might go unsolved.”
The Daily Herald
, September 29, 2002. -- Associated Press. “Cyanide suspect once indicted for murder.”
Galveston Daily News
, October 15, 1982. -- Chicago Police Detective.
Confidential telephone interview by author, February 5, 2009.

Film critic Roger Ebert:
 
Parnell, Sean.
O’Rourkes
. Chicago
Bar
Project.
Accessed January, 11 2011.
http://www.chibarproject.com/Memoriam/O%27Rourke%27s/O%27Rourke%27s.htm

Tavern owner, Marty Sinclair:
 
“Cyanide-Tylenol Extortion Hoax Suspect Was Indicted for Murder.”
Syracuse Post Standard
, October 15, 1982. -- Chicago Detective on 1982 Tylenol task force.
Confidential phone interview by author, February 5, 2009.

Two days later, Arnold was in Lilly’s Bar: Petition for Executive Clemency in Behalf of Roger Arnold. Cook County Circuit Court, 1996 -- Associated Press. “Man Questioned in Cyanide Deaths.” Dispatch, October 13, 1982. -- “Police Search Home
Of
Tylenol Suspect.” Daily Sitka Sentinel, October 14, 1982.