THE TYLENOL MURDERS COVER-UP
J&J executives, the IL Attorney General, FDA and FBI covered up the truth about the 1982 & 1986 Tylenol murders.
Officials from Johnson & Johnson, FBI, FDA and IL OAG (They) claimed cyanide was put into Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules AFTER Tylenol bottles were placed on retail store shelves.
Truth: Cyanide was put into the Tylenol capsules BEFORE the Tylenol bottles were delivered to the retail stores.
They said the cyanide laced Tylenol DID NOT pass through a common point in the distribution channel.
Truth: Cyanide laced Tylenol DID pass through a common point in the distribution channel.
They said Tylenol WAS encapsulated, bottled and packaged at the manufacturing plants.
Truth: Tylenol was packaged at repackaging facilities owned and operated by J&J and their Customers. Tylenol WAS NOT encapsulated, bottled, or packaged at the manufacturing plants.
They said the Killer was an unemployed madman.
Truth: The Killer was employed; probably by J&J or one of its customers.
They said the Tylenol killer murdered 7 people in 1982.
Truth: The Tylenol killer murdered at least 8 people in 1982.
They said cyanide corrodes through gelatin-based capsules in 8 to 30 days.
Truth: The shelf life of gelatin-based Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide can be indefinite.
They said the cyanide laced Tylenol that killed one of the victim's was purchased at Frank's Finer Foods.
Truth: None of the cyanide laced Tylenol was purchased at Frank's Finer Foods.
They said capsules in the "eighth" Tylenol bottle had been laced with cyanide by the Tylenol killer.
Truth: The "eighth" Tylenol bottle was planted into evidence after the murders to keep secret the identity of the Tylenol killer.
They said the killer removed and skillfully replaced the tamper-resitant packaging on both bottles of contaminated Tylenol in 1986.
Truth: The cyanide laced capsules were put into both bottles of Tylenol before they were packaged in 3 layers of tamper-resistant seals in 1986.
They said cyanide laced Tylenol was found in 7 Chicago area outlets.
Truth: Cyanide laced Tylenol was found in at least 8 Chicago area outlets.
They claim that the adulterated Tylenol did not pass through the same distribution center.
Truth: The adulterated Tylenol did pass through the same distribution center.
They claim they don't know who the Tylenol killers are.
But I believe they do know who the Tylenol killers are.
Johnson & Johnson's History of Sociopathic Behavior
What the great investigative journalist Morton Mintz knew at least twenty years ago; what I learned just recently, and what the American public seems unwilling to learn, is best captured in an important article by Mintz: Drug fiends; even inside J&J, public safety can take a back seat to profits:
“When a corporation freely and repeatedly can do so much harm and then escape meaningful punishment, and when a CEO can stand by while hundreds are injured and some even killed and still be hailed as a champion of corporate ethics, there is something deeply wrong with the way America is doing business.”
Drug fiends was published in 1991, and includes this assessment of J&J CEO James Burke:
“Over the past 15 years, J&J and its subsidiaries have been accused of knowingly and needlessly endangering millions of people. A tour through the inner workings of the J&J empire suggests that, in the case of at least four drugs - Zomax, Suprol, Ortho-Novum birth-control pills, and Retin-A - J&J, under Burke's leadership, willfully disregarded public safety in order to push its products.”
The Tylenol Murders Investigation lies
Some officials knowingly made false statements regarding the Tylenol murders; others made false statements out of ignorance.
Regarding Cyanide used in the 1986 Tylenol tampering
‘‘We have conviction'' that none of the poison was put in the capsules by a worker at the plant. Cyanide breaks down the gelatin-based capsules and the deterioration becomes evident ''in less than a month.'' - McNeil President, Joseph Chiesa
The cyanide must have been added to the Tylenol recently because the poison would corrode through the gelatin capsule “within about two weeks.” - J&J spokesman, James Murray
“We have conviction that none of the poison was put in the capsules by a worker at the (J&J) plant.” Cyanide breaks down the gelatin based capsules and deterioration becomes evident “in less than a month.” - FDA spokesman, William Grigg
Fact: FBI officials and the FDA's own scientists confirmed that the cyanide used in the 1986 Tylenol murder would not have caused the capsules to deteriorate. The cyanide laced Tylenol capsules had an indefinite shelf life.
Regarding the 1986 Tylenol killer's modus operandi
The same person who tampered with the pills that killed Miss Elsroth, later took another ''package off the shelf'' of some store, ''then did a very professional job of putting five capsules in, putting it back on the shelf, probably to mislead people from the first bottle.'' - J&J CEO, James Burke
Fact: Investigators had publically dismissed, weeks earlier, the hypothesis Burke presented to a national audience during an interview on the "Phil Donahue Show".
Regarding distribution of the poisoned Tylenol in 1986
“A company computer analysis showed the odds were in the ''10 billions'' against two bottles of tainted capsules from plants 1,000 miles apart ending up in stores within a block and half of each other in a two-week period.” - J&J CEO, James Burke
Fact: No computer analysis was done. The bulk Tylenol ingredients were manufactured in different plants, but the ingredients from both plants were packaged at the same J&J distribution facility in Montgomeryville, PA.
Regarding the packaging and bottling of Tylenol in 1982
Plastic shrink-wrap was wrapped around groups of six bottles at the manufacturing factory." - McNeil President, Joseph Chiesa, while standing next to CEO James Burke.
Fact: Tylenol was not bottled or packaged at manufacturing plants. Tylenol was packaged and bottled at repackaging facilities all across the United States.
The Tylenol murder fable, as told by former J&J Public Relations Vice President 20 years after the 1982 Tylenol murders
“The unknown murderer went out and bought 8 bottles of extra strength capsules from 5 different drug and convenient stores in a 20 mile radius of Chicago. Then they separated the capsules and took out the acetaminophen which was the analgesic product, mixed it with cyanide, put the acetaminophen and cyanide back into the capsules.
Then they took them back to the exact same five stores they had purchased them from and put them on the shelves so some unsuspecting customer would come by and pick them up, ingest the capsule and die from it. They were very careful because they had to put the packaging back in the exact same store, otherwise, when they got to the checkout counter, there would be a discrepancy. They did it very carefully and there was no suspicion at the checkout counter.” - J&J Public Relations VP, Larry Foster
Fact: Nice story, but not a grain of truth to it. The capsules were laced with cyanide during distribution, before the Tylenol was delivered to the stores.
The 1986 Tylenol tamper-resistant packaging ruse
“Previously undetected signs of tampering have now been discovered using sophisticated scientific examinations. Our examinations have further determined it was possible to invade the bottles after packaging was complete without detection through conventional means of examination.” (Ahlerich refused to comment further or answer questions from reporters). - FBI chief of public affairs, Milt Ahlerich
Fact: The packaging was not tampered with. All the evidence released about the FBI inspection of the tamper-resistant packaging showed the packaging had not been tampered with. The Tylenol capsules were laced with cyanide before they were bottled and packaged, and before the Tylenol bottles were shipped to the retail stores.
The "benevolent" James Burke's red herring
“A person who would put poison in the Tylenol capsules clearly was a deranged person. Psychiatrists tell us that these people are saying they need help. These kinds of people know they are not well. They don't want to be called kooks; they don't mind being called sick. If that person came forward and asked for help, he would receive it, although that doesn't mean the person would not have to deal with the halls of justice.'' - J&J CEO, James Burke
Fact: The killer was employed by J&J or one of its customers. James Burke will never be forced to deal with the halls of justice.
James Burke
Q: Other than what's stated, what do these three murder sprees have in common?
When adulterated drugs were used in 1974-75 to poison 8 people and kill two, officials covered-up the facts. The killer was never found.
When poisoned Tylenol capsules were used in 1982 to kill 7 people, officials covered-up the facts. The killer was never found.
When poisoned Tylenol capsules were used in 1986 to kill one person, officials covered-up the facts. The killer was never found.
A: The drugs were poisoned before they ever reached a retail outlet. The killer(s) worked in the pharmaceutical industry.
When cyanide was used in the Chicago area to kill 3 people, two weeks before the 7 cyanide laced Tylenol murders, officials covered-up the facts, and the killer was never found.
There's a problem with one of these lot numbers. Do you know what it is?
