Authorities in Idaho say a man found dead in a church decades ago may be connected to the unsolved 1982 Tylenol murders in Chicago, which led to the introduction of child safety caps on medicines.
Officials reopened a cold case in 2019 that led to the identification of Dr. Mathew Francis Betkouski, who died by cyanide poisoning over 40 years ago and was buried anonymously. Detectives believe Betkouski may have been a suspect in the killings of seven people in the Chicago area with cyanide-laced Tylenol.
An engraved key found with Betkouski's body led investigators to a property in Florida where a person disappeared in 1982. DNA testing confirmed Betkouski's identity, and former colleagues described him as volatile and fascinated with the idea of a 'perfect crime.' However, Betkouski never lived in Illinois or near Chicago, and it is unclear if he returned to the Chicago area after visiting a year before the killings.
Why it matters
The connection could help clarify unresolved details in a decades-old criminal case.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
Watch whether Ada county sheriff’s Office releases new evidence from the reopened cold case.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.