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Tylenol Killer

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Murderer

The Resume

    Murdered 7 people in the Chicago area between September 29-October 1, 1982
    Removed boxes of Extra Strength Tylenol and replaced them with cyanide tainted capsules before returning them to store shelves at six different locations
    Victims, ranged in age from 12 to 35 (two male, five female) ingested the capsules and died

Why they might be annoying:

    He is a cold blooded random killer.
    One of his poisoned bottles killed 3 members of the same family.
    He caused sales of Tylenol to plummet (from a 35% market share of pain relievers to 8%).
    James Lewis tried to extort $1 million from Johnson & Johnson, makers of Tylenol, to 'halt the killings.'
    Though Lewis was ruled out as a suspect, he served a 13 year prison sentence for extortion.
    The murders inspired a rash of 'copycat' acts involving food and drug tampering.
    One copycat instance led to a 90 year sentence for Stella Nickell. She was convicted of poisoning her husband and a random stranger with cyanide tainted Excedrin over a life insurance scheme.
    It was the first U.S. conviction involving product tampering (1986).
    Another led to the life sentence of Joseph Meling, who killed two innocent people with tainted Sudafed to cover-up an life insurance scheme against his wife (who lived).
    The Tylenol Killer was never caught.
    A $100,000 reward offered by Johnson & Johnson has gone unclaimed.

Why they might not be annoying:

    A local doctor suspected cyanide poisoning, and with the help of detectives the common link was found before more people were murdered.
    He caused a national stir over the ease of which products could be tampered.
    This led to improved quality control and the introduction of tamper resistant packaging on many of today's supermarket and drug store items.
    Through fast action, sympathetic feelings concerning the criminal activity and aggressive ad campaigns, Johnson & Johnson recovered and Tylenol gained back its market share.
    Credit: Scar Tactics
    Killer's profile (compiled by law enforcement agencies):
    White male in his 20s (in 1982)
    Skilled at shoplifting
    Lived in the Chicago area in 1982
    Had his own transportation
    Cowardly
    Low income - menial employment
    Devious, but not intelligent
    A loner with few (if any) friends
    Unfulfilled objectives

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 32 Votes: 46.88% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 26 Votes: 42.31% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 36 Votes: 47.22% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 24 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 29 Votes: 58.62% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 25 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 64 Votes: 79.69% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 84 Votes: 67.86% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 81 Votes: 74.07% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 89 Votes: 75.28% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 127 Votes: 75.59% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 512 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 483 Votes: 70.19% Annoying