The Tylenol Mafia (68 page)

Roger Arnold was born: Petition for Executive Clemency in Behalf of Roger Arnold. Cook County Circuit Court, 1996.

In 1969, Arnold took a job: Petition for Executive Clemency in Behalf of Roger Arnold. Cook County Circuit Court, 1996. -- Associated Press. “Man Questioned in Cyanide Deaths.”
Dispatch
, October 13, 1982.

Prior to the aggravated assault charge: Petition for Executive Clemency in Behalf of Roger Arnold. Cook County Circuit Court, 1996.

After arresting Arnold, authorities handcuffed him to a chair: “Rush for Justice, Lifetime of Regret.” Chicago Sun-Times, March 3, 1996.

Chicago Police Detective, James C. Gildea: Associated Press.
“Police Search Suspect's Home Again After Release on Bond.”
Dispatch, October 14, 1982.

On Tuesday afternoon, Chicago police detectives: Blum, Howard. “It was a Typical Night for the Tylenol Task Force.”
The
New York Times
, October 15, 1982.

“You can read”:
 
Blum, Howard. “It was a Typical Night for the Tylenol Task Force.”
The New York Times
, October 15, 1982.

“At first [Arnold] denied”:
10 p.m. News
. NBC, WMAQ-TV: October 13, 1982.

“He (Arnold) dropped the comment”:
10 p.m. News
. NBC, WMAQ-TV: October 13, 1982.

 
“I want you:
 
Blum, Howard. “It was a Typical Night for the Tylenol Task Force.”
The New York Times
, October 15, 1982.

Arnold had married Delores in 1970: Petition for Executive Clemency in Behalf of Roger Arnold. Cook County Circuit Court, 1996.

The divorce was finalized in July of 1982:
 
Blum, Howard. “It was a Typical Night for the Tylenol Task Force.”
The New York Times
, October 15, 1982.

Delores could not believe: Blum, Howard. “It was a Typical Night for the Tylenol Task Force.” The New York Times, October 15, 1982.

Detectives Eddy and Rebholz finished: Blum, Howard. “It was a Typical Night for the Tylenol Task Force.”
The New York Times
, October 15, 1982.

While searching Arnold’s house: United Press International: “More Poisoned Tylenol found.”
Tyrone Daily
, October 26, 1982.
-- “Police Search Suspect's Home Again After Release on Bond.”
Dispatch
, October 14, 1982.

Arnold’s reading material included:
Nightly News
. NBC, October 13, 1982. -- Associated Press. “Police question ‘chemist’ in cyanide-deaths case.”
The New Mexican
, October 13, 1982.

Police found lab equipment and various chemicals: Chicago Police Detective.
Phone interview by author, February 5, 2009.

a
large amount of a certain type of hair-gel used in making homemade bombs: Chicago Detective on Tylenol task force.
Confidential telephone interview by Scott Bartz, February 5, 2009.

Police also turned up a suspicious-looking: Wire Service. “‘Unrelated’ arrests made in Tylenol death case.”
Pacific Stars and Stripes
, October 15, 1982.

A spokesperson for the Chicago police later said:
 
“More Headaches.” TIME, October 25, 1982

Arnold was held without bond:
 
Associated Press.
“Police Search Home of Tylenol Suspect.”
Daily Sitka Sentinel
, October 14, 1982.

Lieutenant Locallo said a “series of coincidences”:
 
“Cyanide-Tylenol Extortion Hoax Suspect Was Indicted for Murder.”
Syracuse Post Standard
, October 15, 1982.

The press frequently reported:
 
Associated Press.
“Police Search Home of Tylenol Suspect.”
Daily Sitka Sentinel
, October 14, 1982.

Arnold was released:
 
United Press International.
“Cyanide Suspect Released on Bail.”
Tyrone Daily Herald
, October 14, 1982.

Chicago Police Detective Jerry Beam:
 
Associated Press. “Man Questioned in Cyanide Deaths.”
Dispatch
, October 13, 1982.

“It doesn’t appear the man”:
 
Wire Service. “‘Unrelated’ arrests made in Tylenol death case.”
Pacific Stars and Stripes
: October 15, 1982

Arnold’s lawyer, Thomas Royce:
Goudie
, Chuck;
Pistone
, Ann. “Legendary Chicago defense lawyer dies at 64.”
ABC-local website, October 6, 2009.
Accessed, July 20, 2011.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/iteam&id=7051285

Nevertheless, when Arnold was released from jail:
 
Associated Press.
“Eighth Poisoned Bottle Of Tylenol Discovered.”
Daily News Record
, October 26, 1982.

Surveillance was so heavy, said Royce:
 
McNamee, Tom. Rush for Justice, Lifetime of Regret
.” Chicago Sun-Times
, March 3, 1996.

The reading material confiscated:
 
United Press International.
 
“Cyanide suspect freed on bond.”
Altoona Mirror
, October 14, 1982.

Arnold said he went to Thailand:
 
United Press International.
 
“Cyanide suspect freed on bond.”
Altoona Mirror
, October 14, 1982.

“
soldier-of-fortune
type”:
 
United Press International.
“Cyanide Suspect Released on Bail.”
Tyrone Daily Herald
, October 14, 1982.

 
“They can say what they want”:
 
United Press International.
“Cyanide Suspect Released on Bail.”
Tyrone Daily Herald
, October 14, 1982.

 
“I was willing to take a polygraph”:
 
United Press International.
 
“Cyanide suspect freed on bond.”
Altoona Mirror
, October 14, 1982.

 
“I knew the family”:
 
United Press International.
 
“Cyanide suspect freed on bond.”
Altoona Mirror
, October 14, 1982.

 
“There are too many coincidences to rule him out”:
 
Blum, Howard. “It was a Typical Night for the Tylenol Task Force.” The
New York Times
, October 15, 1982.

Tyrone Fahner, on the other hand:
 
Associated Press. “Man Questioned in Cyanide Deaths.”
Dispatch
, October 13, 1982.

According to the
Daily Herald
, Arnold:
 
“Why Tylenol deaths might go unsolved.”
The Daily Herald
, September 29, 2002.

Chicago cops believed they had a good case: Chicago Detective on Tylenol task force.
Confidential telephone interview by Scott Bartz, February 5, 2009.
-- Chicago Detective on Tylenol task force.
Confidential email interview by Scott Bartz, February 5, 2009.

 
“The lead in that case”:
 
Associated Press. “Closet chemist not tied to deaths.”
Chronicle-Telegram
, October 14, 1982.

22
           
A Conspiracy Theory

On Friday, October 22
^nd
:
Nightly News
, NBC: October 25, 1982.

Authorities had questioned: “6 Cyanide murders cover for seventh?”
Ironwood Daily Globe
, October 25, 1982. -- Associated Press “Tylenol victim's relative a suspect.”
Marysville Journal
, October 25, 1982. – Associated Press. “Tylenol victim’s relative a suspect.” Register, October 25, 1982. On Monday evening:
Nightly News
, NBC: October 25, 1982.

On Monday evening:
Nightly News
, NBC: October 25, 1982.

Shortly after Arnold’s arrest: Associated Press. “Kansas City slaying kinked to man sought in Tylenol questioning.”
The Register
, October 15, 1982. -- United Press International. “More Cyanide-Laced Tylenol Found; Colorado Incidents Investigated.”
The Progress
, October 26, 1982. -- Associated Press. Tylenol Victim's Kin Is Suspect.”
The Winchester Star
, October 25, 1982.

The New York Times
said Arnold appeared for a while to be a promising lead: “Cyanide is
Found
in 8
^th
Pill Bottle.”
New York Times
, October 26, 1982.

“
drinking
buddies”:
 
United Press International. “More Cyanide-Laced Tylenol Found; Colorado Incidents Investigated.”
The Progress
, October 26, 1982.

“I knew the family:
 
United Press International.
 
“Cyanide suspect freed on bond.”
Altoona Mirror
, October 14, 1982.

On Monday, NBC reported:
 
Nightly News
. NBC, October 25, 1982.

“He is the most innocent person”:
 
The News Service. “Prime Suspect in Tylenol Case Passes Lie Detector Test.”
Winnipeg Free Press
, October 27, 1982.

“Chicago authorities now believe they know the real story”:
Nightly News
. NBC, October 25, 1982.

 
“Investigators now believe the seven Tylenol murders”:
Nightly News
. NBC, October 25, 1982.

 
“
members
of the family of Mrs. Reiner”:
 
Litke
, James. “Eighth bottle of Tainted Tylenol is discovered.”
Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune
, October 26, 1982.

NBC showed video footage of an unidentified:
Nightly News
. NBC, October 25, 1982

The unmarked vehicle shown in the NBC video footage was actually parked outside the home of Ed Reiner: Reiner, Ed. Personal interview by author. Winfield, IL, May 22, 2010. – Rosen, Michelle.
Personal interview by author, May 22, 2010.

The prime suspect referenced by Tom Brokaw: Reiner, Ed. Personal interview by author. Winfield, IL, May 22, 2010.

Ed wasn’t home when NBC: Reiner, Ed. Personal interview by author. Winfield, IL, May 22, 2010.

IDLE investigators asked Ed: Reiner, Ed. Personal interview by author. Winfield, IL, May 22, 2010.

The interrogation of Reiner:
Litke
, James. “Woman turns in bottle of tainted Tylenol.”
Sequin Gazette-Enterprise
: October 26, 1982 -- Personal interview by author. Winfield, IL, May 22, 2010.

An IDLE investigator began: Reiner, Ed. Personal interview by author. Winfield, IL, May 22, 2010.

Reiner was flabbergasted: Reiner, Ed. Reiner, Ed. Personal interview by author. Winfield, IL, May 22, 2010.

In a condescending, perverse tone: Reiner, Ed. Personal interview by author. Winfield, IL, May 22, 2010.

To the consternation of his attorney: Reiner, Ed. Personal interview by author. Winfield, IL, May 22, 2010.

The Frye doctrine: Del Carmen, Rolando V.
Criminal Procedure: Law and Practice
. Wadsworth Publishing: 2006, Pg. 329.

Polygraphy
is widely rejected by the scientific community: Del Carmen, Rolando V.
Criminal Procedure: Law and Practice
, Wadsworth Publishing: 2006, Pg. 329. --
Langan
, Michael Lawrence, M.D. “The Art of Deception: Polygraph Lie Detection.”
Gray Areas
, Vol. 4 No, 1, February 1999.

184
   
According to polygraph expert, Michael Lawrence
Langan
, M.D.:
Langan
, Michael Lawrence, M.D. “The Art of Deception: Polygraph Lie Detection.”
Gray Areas
, Vol. 4 No, 1, February 1999

The polygraph test most commonly used:
Langan
, Michael Lawrence, M.D. “The Art of Deception: Polygraph Lie Detection.”
Gray Areas
, Vol. 4 No, 1, February 1999.