In 1982, a serial killer in Illinois laced Tylenol capsules with cyanide, killing 7 people, including a 12-year-old girl. The killer, who was never caught, would enter pharmacies, swap real capsules with cyanide-filled ones, and leave without being recorded on camera. The crime led to a massive recall of Tylenol products, a multi-million-dollar global campaign to educate people about the dangers of tampered medications, and changes in packaging laws, requiring safety lids and difficult-to-open bottles. The killer's actions had a lasting impact on the world, changing the way medications are packaged and sold.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. A serial killer murdered 7 people in the United States in 1982.
2. The victims were a 12-year-old girl, 4 women, and 2 men.
3. The killer used cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules to kill his victims.
4. The first victim was 12-year-old Mary Kellerman, who died on September 29, 1982.
5. The killer struck again, killing 6 more people, including Adam Janus, Teresa Janus, and Stanley Janus.
6. The police investigation led to the discovery of the cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules.
7. The incident led to a mass hysteria in the United States, with the health department imposing an emergency ban on all Tylenol brand products.
8. The killer was never caught and the case remains unsolved.
9. The incident led to changes in the way medications are packaged, with safety lids and tamper-evident seals becoming mandatory.
10. James W. Lis was a suspect in the case, but he was later determined to be an attention-seeker and not the actual killer.
11. Lis was later sentenced to 20 years in prison for a credit card scam in 1995.
12. The Tylenol murders led to a multi-million dollar global campaign to teach people about the dangers of tampering with medication.
13. The incident changed the way people consume medication, with many being taught to check for tamper-evident seals and safety lids.
14. The killer's actions led to a significant change in the way pharmacies operate, with security cameras and other safety measures becoming more widespread.
15. The case remains one of the most infamous in American history, with the killer's identity still unknown.