Cyanide-laced Tylenol kills seven: the tragic medical mystery began forty years ago today. ⁠ It began with seventh-grader Mary Ann Kellerman, who died after ingesting Tylenol, the best-selling non-prescription pain reliever on the market at the time; subsequent mysterious deaths occurred throughout the day. ⁠ Investigators had established a link between the poisoning deaths and Tylenol by early October 1982. The gelatin-based capsules were especially popular because they were slick and easy to swallow; unfortunately, each victim swallowed a Tylenol capsule laced with cyanide, which was lethal.⁠ While Extra-Strength Tylenol bottles were recalled across the country, the only contaminated capsules were discovered in the Chicago area. The perpetrator was never caught, but the mass murder prompted the development of new tamper-proof medicine containers. ⁠ Follow our bio link for more coverage.⁠ 📷️: 1. A drugstore clerk removes Tylenol capsules from the shelves of a pharmacy in New York City September 30, 1982 Yvonne Hemsey/Getty Images⁠ 2. The triple safety-sealed, tamper-resistant package for Tylenol capsules has (1) glued flaps on the outer box, (2) a tight plastic neck seal, and (3) a strong inner foil seal over the mouth of the bottle 1982 Bettmann #GettyImages #PreservingThePast #GettyArchive⁠ ⁠ #onthisdayinhistory #onthisday #ushistory #usahistory #inthenews #mystery #unsolvedmurder #chicagonews #murdermystery #shootingthepast #historyphoto #historyphotographed #nostalgia #archivephoto #photoarchive #vintagephoto #photolibrary #heritage