The Tylenol Mafia (78 page)

The Kansas City police had identified: “Cyanide-Tylenol Extortion Hoax Suspect Was Indicted for Murder.”
Syracuse Post Standard
, October 15, 1982.

At the time of his death: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.

Banker returned to West’s home: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
,
 
November
3, 2000.

Police drove down the street: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.

When Lewis came under: Associated Press.
“KC names prosecutor.”
The Iola Register
, October 21, 1982.

Upon learning about the Raymond West case: “Cyanide-Tylenol Extortion Hoax Suspect Was Indicted for Murder.”
Syracuse Post Standard
, October 15, 1982.

He had been living in New York City: United Press International.
“Tylenol Suspect in N.Y.
During Killings?”
Pharos-Tribune
, October 21, 1982.

38
           
How Do You Solve A Problem Like James Lewis?

James Lewis was in his tiny studio: McCabe, Neil W. “Been There.”
The Alewife
, October 3, 2007.

On October 16, 1982:
Buder
, Leonard. “At Time of Tylenol Deaths, Suspects were in New York.”
The New York Times
, October 21, 1982. -- Lewis, James.
Personal interview by author.
Philadelphia, May 27, 2011.

On Monday, October 18
^th
, investigators released a grainy photo: Associated Press. “Tylenol case photo clue ‘significant’.”
The Paris News
, October 19, 1982.

Unidentified sources “close to the investigation”: Associated Press. “Tylenol victim, ‘suspect’ on film.”
The Chronicle-Telegram
, October 19, 1982.

“It could be”: Associated Press. “Tylenol victim, ‘suspect’ on film.”
The Chronicle-Telegram
, October 19, 1982.

“I’m very doubtful it is him.
”:
Dowling, John. “Photo ‘significant’ clue in Tylenol probe.”
The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise
, October 19, 1982.

On October 20
^th
, authorities:
Buder
, Leonard. “At Time of Tylenol Deaths, Suspects were in New York.”
The
New York Times
, October 21, 1982.

There were few professionals:
Buder
, Leonard. “At Time of Tylenol Deaths, Suspects were in New York.”
The
New York Times
, October 21, 1982.

Kenneth Walton, the Deputy Assistant Director: “At Time of Tylenol Deaths, Suspects were in New York.”
The
New York Times
, October 21, 1982.

 
“I would see them leave at 7:30 in the morning”:
Buder
, Leonard. “At Time of Tylenol Deaths, Suspects were in New York.”
The
New York Times
, October 21, 1982.

 
“We don’t think”:
Buder
, Leonard. “At Time of Tylenol Deaths, Suspects were in New York.”
The
New York Times
, October 21, 1982.

 
“He is one of the more substantial leads”:
Buder
, Leonard. “At Time of Tylenol Deaths, Suspects were in New York.”
The
New York Times
, October 21, 1982.

 
“That is one of the options”:
Buder
, Leonard. “At Time of Tylenol Deaths, Suspects were in New York.”
The
New York Times
, October 21, 1982.

365
   
We obviously have not confirmed that they have been there”:
Buder
, Leonard. “At Time of Tylenol Deaths, Suspects were in New York.”
The
New York Times
, October 21, 1982.

 
“I wasn’t the only one”: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.

 
“Everybody fought for”: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.

 
“There is a general”: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.

 
“People will withhold information”: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.

“Roger Arnold is without a doubt”: Chicago Police Detective. Email Interview by author. February 5, 2009.

“[We] didn’t really run”: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.

“As you have probably guessed”: United Press International. “Tylenol suspect asked to turn himself in after writing letter.”
Hutchinson News
, October 31, 1982.

 
“Does the FBI and the Attorney General”: Beck, Melinda; Foote, Donna.
“Tylenol letter.”
Newswee
k, November 8, 1982.

 
“I would like to send a message”: United Press International. “Tylenol suspect asked to turn himself in after writing letter.”
Hutchinson News
, October 31, 1982.

Fahner assured Lewis: United Press International. “Tylenol suspect asked to turn himself in after writing letter.”
Hutchinson News
, October 31, 1982.

On December 13, 1982, Librarian Donald Alexis: “Booked.”
TIME
, December 27, 1982.

Lewis was at a table: 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.

In Chicago, Fahner ignored: “Tylenol Inquiry Centers on Couple.”
The
New York Times
, December 19, 1982.

 
“If he’s not guilty of the Tylenol”: “Tylenol Inquiry Centers on Couple.”
The New York Times
, December 19, 1982.

Records at the Hotel Rutledge: Saxon, Wolfgang. “Pill Case Suspect Found In New York.”
The
New York Times
, December 14, 1982.

Lewis was arraigned: Associated Press. “Suspect’s link to Tylenol deaths probed.”
The New Mexican
, December 14, 1982.

Lewis was held in the Metropolitan Correctional Center: Doyle, Pat.
“Lewis arraignment on extortion plot today.”
The Daily Herald
, December 28, 1982.

Before facing charges: Associated Press. “Lewis denies tax, mail fraud charges.”
The Stars and Stripes
, January 15, 1982.

The key testimony: Associated Press. “Quick conviction ends Lewis trial in KC.”
Lawrence Journal-World
, May 27, 1983.

Lewis did not testify: Associated Press. “Quick conviction ends Lewis trial in KC.”
Lawrence Journal-World
, May 27, 1983.

 
“Mr. Rea cut a deal, so he won’t be prosecuted”: Associated Press.
“Tylenol Scam Suspect Guilty.”
The Victoria Advocate,
May 27, 1982.

Lewis’s trial for attempted extortion: Associated Press. “Lewis convicted in Tylenol poisoning extortion case.”
Daily Intelligencer
, October 28, 1983.

“When Mr. Lewis found out”: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.

 
“Mr. Monico said that it is because”: Bergmann, Joy.
“A Bitter Pill.”
Chicago Reader
, November 3, 2000.

 
“The man who wrote”:
Duerksen
, Susan.
“Lewis guilty of extortion attempt.”
The Daily Herald,
October 28, 1982.

Lewis’s defense attorney:
Duerksen
, Susan.
“Lewis guilty of extortion attempt.”
The Daily Herald,
October 28, 1982.

 
“This case is bizarre”: Associated Press. “Lewis convicted in Tylenol poisoning extortion case.”
Daily Intelligencer
, October 28, 1983.

A federal jury:
Duerksen
, Susan.
“Lewis guilty of extortion attempt.”
The Daily Herald,
October 28, 1982.

 
“I do not lie”:
Duerksen
, Susan. “Lewis sentenced to 10 years for Tylenol threats.”
The Daily Herald
, June 14, 1984.

“In the face of”:
Duerksen
, Susan. “Lewis sentenced to 10 years for Tylenol threats.”
The Daily Herald
, June 14, 1984.

“Under the circumstances”:
 
Duerksen
, Susan. “Lewis sentenced to 10 years for Tylenol threats.”
The Daily Herald
, June 14, 1984.

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

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

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

What a jury could not do: 738 F.2d 91 USA,
Appellee
, v. James W. Lewis, Appellant. No. 83-1947 US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, January 26, 1984.

 
“We answer all of these questions in the affirmative”: 738 F.2d 91 USA,
Appellee
, v. James W. Lewis, Appellant. No. 83-1947 US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, January 26, 1984.

On a hot August afternoon: McCabe, Neil W. “Been There.”
The Alewife
, October 3, 2007.

When police arrived: McCabe, Neil W. “Been There.”
The Alewife
, October 3, 2007.

The Middlesex County prosecutor: Lewis, James.
Personal interview by author.
Philadelphia, May 27, 2011.

In an August 2004 email:
Hettenger
, Lee.
Lab case number 04-07342-2.
Email, August 9, 2004.

Michael Regal, a Cambridge police: McCabe, Neil W. “Been There.”
The Alewife,
October 3, 2007.

Meredith Lerner, a spokesperson for Middlesex: McCabe, Neil W. “Been There.”
The Alewife
, October 3, 2007.

39
           
A Second Look

Jim Lewis threw: Lewis, James.
Personal interview by author.
Philadelphia, May 27, 2011.

The FBI did not interrogate: Lewis, James. Email interview by author, August 2, 2009.

 
“The FBI, in cooperation”: Rice, Ross.
“Media Advisory on Review of 1982 Tylenol Murders,” FBI website, February 4, 2009.
Accessed, July 20.
2011.
www.FBI.gov
.
http://www.fbi.gov/chicago/press-releases/2009/feb04_09.htm

In June 2009: Lewis, James.
Phone interview by author, July 9, 2009.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): U.S.C. Title 5, Section 552. Public information; agency rules, opinions, orders, records, and proceedings

Between 1995 and 1999, President Clinton: Government Publications Access.
Illinois Institute of Technology website.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA
),
Accessed June 30, 2011.
http://www.gl.iit.edu/govdocs/foia.html

 
“I will also hold myself”: Obama, Barack.
“REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN WELCOMING SENIOR STAFF AND CABINET SECRETARIES TO THE WHITE HOUSE.”
January 21, 2009. Accessed June 30, 2011
http://m.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-welcoming-senior-staff-and-cabinet-secretaries-white-house