There is something about Netflix documentaries that pulls viewers back again and again. While one of the many factors that serve as an intrigue is its default departure from fiction, another is the streamer’s choice of picks. Amidst the OTT platform’s record-shattering streak, Netflix expanded its Cold Case
franchise with a series about the infamous Tylenol murders.
For those unaware and curious about Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders
on Netflix, here is everything you need to know about the docuseries.
Plot of Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders on Netflix
Cold Case: The Tylenol Murder
s on Netflix is an upcoming three-part docuseries chronicling one of the largest criminal investigations in the US. Seven lives were claimed in Chicago, and this 1982 unsolved case explores the incidents that led to a safety overhaul of the over-the-counter medication packaging. T
he series features an exclusive interview with one suspect. According to the official synopsis, Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders
questions whether one man did it all or served as a “scapegoat
” in a bigger picture.
Among the seven lives lost in the Tylenol murders case, a 12-year-old passed away after consuming over-the-counter painkillers containing cyanide. No one was held accountable for the lives claimed. However, James W. Lewis served over 12 years for an extortion note sent to Johnson & Johnson. Lewis reportedly demanded a million dollars to “stop the killing.”
Lewis was arrested in 1982 and released in 1995.
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That said, what happened to James W. Lewis?
All about James W. Lewis’ story, the suspect of Netflix’s Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders
After James W. Lewis’ arrest in 1982, he elaborated to investigators about how the murderer may have carried out the operation. He later admitted sending the note to Johnson & Johnson. Lewis also revealed he had no plans to collect money. The only aim was to embarrass his wife’s former employee.
Lewis eventually told the Associated Press in custody in 1992 that his explanation to the investigators was merely an assumption. Despite being a suspect, he always denied any role in the devastating incident. He also created a website, claiming he was framed. FBI obtained DNA samples in 2010 and seized his computer in 2009 when the investigation was renewed. According to the New York Times, Lewis passed away in July 2023.
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While Netflix’s library is already brimming with real-life crime documentaries,
does Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders
have a release date on Netflix?
Release date of Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders on Netflix
Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders
on Netflix will be released on Monday, May 26.
Netflix recently released a new trailer on April 30, hinting at an interview with suspect James Lewis. The interview was conducted before his demise in July 2023. Yotam Guendelman and Ari Pines have directed the series, and Joe Berlinger serves as a producer.
At least seven people died after ingesting cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules, sparking nationwide panic and one of the largest criminal investigations in U.S. history.
Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders, a gripping three-part docuseries, premieres May 26. pic.twitter.com/YnVLNS3l70
— Netflix (@netflix) April 30, 2025
Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders
on Netflix will feature unseen interviews and testimonies from key figures. Berlinger serves as an executive producer alongside Jon Kamen, Jen Isaacson, Craig D’Entrone, Guendelman, Pines, Mika Timor, Maor Azran, and Dan Adler. Production companies include RadicalMedia, Silvio Films, and MA Production in association with Third Eye Motion Picture Company.
Are you interested in Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders
on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!