Theresa M. Terri Tarasewicz Janus, 20, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, died on September 29, 1982, after ingesting cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules. She had married Stanley Janus on June 19, 1982. On the day of the deaths Theresa and Stanley visited the home of Stanley’s brother, Adam Janus, who had collapsed and died earlier that day.

Stanley and Theresa consumed Tylenol from the same bottle Adam had used; within hours both collapsed and were pronounced dead at the hospital. Adam Janus, 27, a postal worker, was also among seven people in the Chicago area who died after taking tainted Tylenol capsules purchased at different stores. The poisonings triggered a nationwide panic, a large product recall, and changes to over-the-counter drug packaging. No one was ever charged with the poisonings; James Lewis, who later attempted to extort Johnson & Johnson and was convicted of extortion, was treated as a prime suspect but was not charged with the murders.

Did anyone who knew Theresa or the Janus family notice anything unusual about the Tylenol bottles or the days before the deaths?