FBI Investigating Unabomber in 1982 Tylenol Murders

By Chuck Sudo in News on May 19, 2011 4:40PM

The FBI has requested DNA samples from Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, as part of an investigation into whether Kaczynski was involved in the 1982 Tylenol poisonsings that led to seven deaths in the Chicago area.

The investigation into who was behind the tampering of bottles of Tylenol has taken many turns over the years. A man named James W. Lewis was convicted of extortion for sending parent company Johnson & Johnson a letter demanding $1 million to stop the tamperings. Lewis was never charged with the murders and continues to deny involvement. FBI investigations also looked at Laurie Dann, who poisoned and shot people during a May 1988 Winnetka killing spree, and a man named roger Arnold, who suffered a nervous breakdown due to the media attention surrounding him. Arnold later served half of a 30-year prison term for murdering a man he mistook for the bar owner he believed turned his name into authorities, and died three years ago.

An FBI spokeswoman said that Kaczynski has refused to voluntarily give a DNA sample and a letter written by Kaczynski in court papers filed in California last week indicate prison officials forwarded a DNA request from the Chicago FBI office.