During his time in prison, Lewis was incarcerated for a period of 12 years due to his actions of sending a letter to Johnson & Johnson, the well-known manufacturer of Tylenol. In this letter, he demanded a sum of $1 million from the company in order to “stop the killing.
James Lewis, longtime suspect in the 1982 Tylenol murders, dead at 76
Who was James Lewis?
James Lewis gained notoriety as a suspect in the infamous Tylenol murders that occurred in 1982. He was born in Illinois in 1945 and had a history of criminal behavior prior to his involvement in the Tylenol poisoning case.
The Tylenol Murders
In 1982, seven people in the Chicago area died after taking Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules that had been laced with cyanide. The incident led to a nationwide panic and resulted in the introduction of tamper-evident packaging in the pharmaceutical industry.
James Lewis’ Involvement
James Lewis became a prime suspect in the Tylenol murders after sending a letter to Johnson & Johnson demanding $1 million to stop the killings. The FBI launched an investigation into his background and ultimately arrested him on charges unrelated to the poisonings.
Life after the Case
After serving time in prison for extortion and other charges, James Lewis maintained his innocence in the Tylenol murders. He continued to be a person of interest in the case for decades, but was never formally charged.
Death of James Lewis
James Lewis passed away at the age of 76, putting an end to one of the longest-running mysteries in criminal history. Despite his death, the Tylenol murders remain unsolved, leaving the families of the victims without closure.
