“Tylenol Killer” investigation underway today in Cambridge and Somerville

On February 4, 2009, in Latest News, by The News Staff

By James A. Norton / Pictures by William Tauro

According
to an anonymous source, the FBI, along with Mass State Police and
several other law enforcement agencies, are conducting an investigation
and executing search warrants in Cambridge and Somerville related to
the 1982 Tylenol Killer case.

In the Chicago area in the late
Summer and early Fall of 1982, there were seven fatal Tylenol
poisonings which involved capsules laced with potassium cyanide.

Although
nobody has been charged and convicted of the crime, the case has
remained active and
several other related investigations have been
conducted, including one against James W. Lewis, who is alleged to be a
resident of Cambridge, close to the Somerville line.

In 1982,
when the incidents happened, Lewis sent a letter to Johnson &
Johnson demanding $1 million to stop the cyanide-induced murders.
Although at that time he was not charged with the actual crime, he was
charged with extortion, convicted and served 13 years of a 20 year
sentence. He was released in 1995.

The scene of the main activity from early this morning until late this afternoon has been 170 Gore Street in Cambridge.

Special
Agent Gail A. Marcinkiewicz of the Boston field office of the FBI has
confirmed that there is an active investigation ongoing today, but will
not confirm whether the investigation specifically involves Lewis at
this time.