Even the most knowledgeable true chilling true crime documentaries.

Netflix’s docies Cold Case: Tylenol Murders explores the 1982 murders of seven individuals in the Chicago area using cyanide-filled capsules of Tylenol. Since it’s a well-known case, many fans of the genre might feel inclined to skip it. After all, some documentaries just rehash the same details over again without offering anything new. However, Cold Case: Tylenol Murders sets itself apart by offering something new that no other true crime documentary can provide, the only interview with the prime suspect of this specific cold case.

Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders Includes The Only Full Interview With Prime Suspect James Lewis

James Lewis Was Hesitant To Speak With Interviewers Prior To Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders

When it comes to the Tylenol Murders, the primary suspect is James Lewis (also known by many aliases, including Robert Richardson). Though some true crime fans might recognize that name, they still have plenty to gain from Netflix’s new three-part docies because they acquired the only full interview with Lewis. For those unfamiliar, James Lewis had plenty of circumstantial evidence that contributed to him being a prime suspect in the Tylenol murders.

Lewis was previously arrested for allegedly murdering his former friend Ray West. Then, the police found evidence of Lewis committing credit card fraud and identity theft. He allegedly had drafts of extortion and a book about poison. He also had a motive to target Johnson and Johnson, since a subsidiary made the faulty patch from his daughter’s heart surgery. He even itted to writing the letter before the story broke when talking to an FBI agent, though he quickly backtracked.

Both prime suspects in the Tylenol murders, James Lewis and Roger Arnold, are deceased.

Despite this, the only crime the FBI could ever prove that he committed was writing an extortion letter to Johnson and Johnson, demanding they give $1 million to stop the killings. During Cold Case: Tylenol Murders, Lewis explains why he wrote the letter. He said that he found out about the murders and used the bank number of his nemesis in the letter, thinking they would zero in on the other man. He allegedly didn’t even believe it would be extortion since he wasn’t the one receiving the money. If he’s to be believed, he was deeply foolish, but not a killer.

How Production Convinced James Lewis To Participate In Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders

Producer Molly Forster Convinced The Prime Suspect To Go On The Record

Getting James Lewis to cooperate with the Netflix docies was no easy feat, as the prime suspect turned down interviews before. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Producer Molly Forster is to thank for convincing Lewis to go on camera. Though journalists hoped to get him to speak about the case, only Forester got her to open the front door.

From there, it took a whole year of assuring him that they’d treat him as a human to get him to agree. Forester told him, “You’re a human being. We want to talk to you as a human being — even if you did all of this horrible stuff.” The filmmakers also promised him that he would get to tell his side of the story.

Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders Balances Out Lewis’ Interview With Interviews Of The Victims’ Families

The Netflix Docies Doesn't Just Focus On Potential Killers

It’s really hard to deny that the majority of Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders is about James Lewis. Investigators in the case are allowed to share their opinions based on their experience and knowledge of the case. The filmmakers explore his potential guilt from all angles, refraining from labeling him as guilty or innocent. Instead, they do the most ethical thing that any true crime story can do – allow people directly impacted by the case to speak.

The family of the victims are given the time and space to speak about the case and investigation. Specifically, the first episode opens with a first responder, a brother, and a niece recounting how they found out about the murders and coped in the immediate aftermath. Then, the last episode ends with a family member asking for the investigation to stop focusing on James Lewis now that he’s dead and look to other leads instead. The sheer number of interviews makes Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders one of the most fascinating and valuable resources when it comes to the tragic cold case.

Source: Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders and The Hollywood Reporter