Ep 8. The Mysterious Poisoned Pill Murders

In season 2 episode 8 of BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime, entitled The Mysterious Poisoned Pill Murders, hosts Ryan and Shane explore a series of suspicious deaths in Chicago during the 1980s.

The episode begins with an introduction to Susan Snow, a mother of four who died suddenly and unexpectedly in 1981. The cause of death was determined to be a lethal dose of cyanide, found in a pill bottle in her home. The investigation into Susan's death revealed that her husband, Paul, had taken out a $110,000 life insurance policy on her just days before her death. Despite this suspicious evidence, Paul was never charged with any wrongdoing in connection to Susan's death.

As Ryan and Shane delve deeper into the case, they discover that Susan's death was not an isolated incident. Over the course of several years in the early 1980s, multiple individuals in the Chicago area died in similar circumstances. Each victim was found with a lethal dose of cyanide in their system, and in each case, a mysterious pill bottle was found near the body.

The hosts interview a forensic pathologist who worked on the case, who confirms the unusual nature of the deaths. He explains that cyanide is a highly toxic substance, and that even small amounts can be lethal. The fact that multiple individuals were found with this poison in their system, all in similar circumstances, is highly suspicious.

Ryan and Shane then explore a theory that these deaths were the work of a serial killer. They look at the timeline of the murders and note that they all occurred within a relatively short period of time, suggesting that the killer was active for a specific period. They also note that each victim had some connection to the legal field, whether as a lawyer or a relative of a lawyer. This connection leads the hosts to speculate that this may have been a targeted attack against the legal community.

However, the hosts also explore the possibility of a copycat killer, as well as the potential involvement of organized crime. They interview a retired detective who worked on the case, who recalls the challenges his team faced in trying to connect the dots between the different deaths.

As the episode concludes, Ryan and Shane are left with no clear answers as to who was responsible for the poisoned pill murders. They highlight the fact that the case remains unsolved to this day, leaving the families of the victims without closure. The hosts express their hope that one day, someone will come forward with information that can shed new light on this mystery.

Overall, The Mysterious Poisoned Pill Murders is an intriguing episode that explores a chilling series of deaths that have baffled investigators for decades. As always, Ryan and Shane bring their trademark humor and skepticism to the case, but also approach it with the respect and sensitivity it deserves.