The
evidence investigators presented to prosecutors so far remains
circumstantial, but could be bolstered through statements from potential
witnesses who have declined to sit for interviews,
according to sources
close to the investigation.
So far, however, no decision has been
made on whether to give the grand jury a green light. Sources say both
state attorneys from Cook and DuPage counties have been briefed on the
evidence. The investigation, handled by an FBI-led task force of law
enforcement agents, still centers on the same man: James W. Lewis,
sources tell the Sun-Times.
“The task force was charged with
looking at all aspects of the long dormant investigation, including the
re-interview of witnesses, computerizing all documents and exhibits, and
subjecting physical evidence to new and previously unavailable forensic
examinations,” FBI spokesman Ross Rice said in a statement. “To date,
hundreds of interviews have been conducted and several thousand pieces
of potential evidence re-examined.”
But are they any further along?
“You’re either at the point where you
can charge someone or you’re not. We are obviously not in the position
to charge right now but we are farther along,” Rice said. “The task
force is still in place, they’re still actively reinvestigating the
case. “
Even the “Unibomber” Ted Kaczynski had
been swabbed for DNA at one point — but sources said that was done to
exclude him as a suspect.
In 2010, Lewis and his wife had been ordered to submit a DNA sample, fingerprints and palm prints to investigators.
“There are things they uncovered that you’d want to take a second look at forensically,” said one law enforcement source.
In 1982, seven Chicago area residents —
five in Cook and two in DuPage — died after taking Extra Strength
Tylenol capsules, which later were found to have been laced with
cyanide, touching off a nationwide scare that led to new packaging for
medicines and food. Various theories have been put forth over the years.
Lewis has remained the chief suspect for investigators.
He was never charged with the murders
but in 1983 he was charged with extorting the drug maker’s parent
company, Johnson & Johnson, demanding in a letter $1 million to
“stop the killings.” Lewis served 13 years in prison.
The Tylenol investigation remained
dormant until 2009, when FBI agents — citing advances in forensic
technology and new tips on the cyanide poisonings — raided Lewis’
Boston-area home and storage lockers. At the time, the FBI said there
was probable cause to believe the locations contained evidence related
to the murders.
In 1978, Lewis was charged with the
murder of Raymond West, an elderly former client of Lewis’ accounting
business. West’s body had been dismembered, stuffed in a plastic bag and
hoisted to an attic ceiling in West’s home. Charges were dismissed
after a judge ruled that Lewis’ arrest and search of his home were
improperly conducted. He later moved to Boston and in 2004 he was
charged with brutally kidnapping and raping a woman. He was in jail for
about three years awaiting trial but the charges were dismissed in 2007
after the victim refused to testify against him.
In recent years, Lewis wrote a book
entitled “Poison! The Doctor’s Dilemma,” which he describes as a
“twisted and surreal” fictional story about random poisonings. Lewis
did not respond for comment but on his web site, called Johnson &
Johnson the “prime murder suspect.”
Contributing: Dan Rozek
