Who was Raymond West and how is he connected to the Tylenol Murders?

Right, a new Netflix documentary about the Tylenol Murders just dropped, and it’s getting a lot of attention. But it’s not just for what happened in Chicago in 1982. The three-part series, Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders, looks back at one of the most shocking unsolved crimes in American history. At least seven people died after taking Tylenol capsules that had been laced with cyanide.

But the Tylenol Murders documentary also explores another disturbing case: The story of Raymond West.

So, who was Raymond West?

Raymond West via Netflix

Raymond West was a retired lorry driver living in Kansas City, Missouri. He often passed by a local tax service office called Lewis & Lewis, run by James Lewis and his wife. The two men knew each other casually. According to James, Ray would drop in now and then, and over time, and that’s how they got to know each other better.

But something shifted after James’ young daughter passed away. Ray reportedly started to feel uneasy around him. He told friends that James was suddenly showing up too often and making him uncomfortable.

Then, in July 1978, Ray vanished.

So, did the police find anything after his disappearance ?

Police report via Netflix

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When Ray didn’t show up for days, a friend reported him missing. Police went to check on him and found a note stuck to the front door. It said Ray had gone away for a few days, and if anyone needed him, they should contact “Jim.” The note was written on Lewis & Lewis stationery.

In the documentary, James Lewis admitted he wrote the note, claiming Ray had asked him to, saying he was heading to the Ozarks. But Ray never returned.

Three weeks later, police searched the house again. This time, they found blood on the walls, blood on the floor, and stains on the ceiling. Eventually, they found Ray West’s body. It had been cut up and hidden in the attic. He was 72 years old at the time of his death.

So, was James Lewis involved?

James Lewis via Netflix

Police had their suspicions right away. In the bathroom, they found a bar of soap with blood and human hairs. One of the hairs matched James Lewis, according to forensic tests at the time.

They also found a cheque made out to Lewis & Lewis for $5,000. Investigators didn’t believe Ray had written it himself. Lewis said the money was just a loan, and he planned to pay it back.

He was arrested and charged with murder. But his legal team argued that police hadn’t followed proper procedures during questioning. Because of that, crucial evidence, including the soap and his early statements, was ruled inadmissible in court.

The judge agreed and the case was dropped. No one was ever convicted of Ray’s killing.

$5,000 check via Netflix

But what does this have to do with the Tylenol Murders?

Four years after Raymond West’s death, someone laced Tylenol capsules with cyanide, killing seven people and sparking nationwide panic over the Tylenol murders. James Lewis was never charged with the poisonings, but he quickly became the main suspect.

He had sent a letter to Tylenol’s parent company, claiming he could stop the murders if they paid him $1 million. But he later called it a hoax. He was convicted of extortion and spent time in prison but never faced murder charges. In 2009, he gave a DNA sample to the FBI. It didn’t match any traces found on the contaminated bottles.

The Netflix series features interviews with investigators who worked on both cases. Many of them believe the same man could be responsible for both crimes.

James denied any involvement until his death. He insisted he didn’t kill Raymond West, and he didn’t tamper with Tylenol.

Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, quizzes, drops and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. Featured image via Netflix.