Tylenol Cold Case Heats Up

Mike Schuster  Feb 05, 2009 3:00 pm

Tylenol Cold Case Heats Up
 
Brief scrutiny of today's headlines.
 

 
Federal investigators return to unsolved crime.

In the autumn of 1982, 7 people were killed after consuming Tylenol (JNJ) capsules that had been laced with potassium cyanide by an unknown assailant.

Nearly 27 years later, the still-unsolved Tylenol murder case is being reopened.


Working off advances in forensic technology and a new influx of tips after the incident's twenty-fifth anniversary, federal investigators decided to review all the evidence again. Chicago's division of the FBI will be working in conjunction with the Illinois State Police and local departments on the cold-case investigation.

Continuing with their best lead from 1982, agents searched the home of James W. Lewis, who was arrested on an extortion charge related to the case. Lewis had sent Johnson & Johnson a letter demanding $1 million if the company wished to "stop the killing." Though he denied having anything to do with the murders, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and remains a prime suspect.

Tylenol manufacturer Johnson & Johnson was praised for its swift response to the crisis: All Tylenol products were removed from the shelves nationwide - even though the only reported cases occurred in the Chicago area. The company released extensive consumer warnings, and offered exchanges to anyone who had already made a purchase.

As a result, the company posted heavy losses. It rebounded in less than a year, however, following the introduction of tamper-proof packaging, which led to widespread adoption of hermetically sealed bottles.

Due to the company's swift action, Tylenol remains one of the most popular over-the-counter painkillers on the market.

Check out Minyanville's look at some of the most infamous product recalls in history.

1 of 1 (100%) found this helpful
Rate this article:  (1 Vote)
Comment (0) See All Comments »
discuss this article and more on the mv exchange
No positions in stocks mentioned.

Get real-time options trading ideas from Steve Smith, veteran options trader and newsletter author, plus let him show you the way to cut risk and boost your returns through the strategic use of options.  Click here for a free 14 day trial to OptionSmith by Steve Smith.



The information on this website solely reflects the analysis of or opinion about the performance of securities and financial markets by the writers whose articles appear on the site. The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of Minyanville Media, Inc. or members of its management. Nothing contained on the website is intended to constitute a recommendation or advice addressed to an individual investor or category of investors to purchase, sell or hold any security, or to take any action with respect to the prospective movement of the securities markets or to solicit the purchase or sale of any security. Any investment decisions must be made by the reader either individually or in consultation with his or her investment professional. Minyanville writers and staff may trade or hold positions in securities that are discussed in articles appearing on the website. Writers of articles are required to disclose whether they have a position in any stock or fund discussed in an article, but are not permitted to disclose the size or direction of the position. Nothing on this website is intended to solicit business of any kind for a writer's business or fund. Minyanville management and staff as well as contributing writers will not respond to emails or other communications requesting investment advice.
Ticker Talk
Popular Tickers:
F »AMZN »HIG »
Select
  •  
Talk Now
Share this Talk on your site:
Send us your feedback

Our Professors

rss article alert