[6][note 1] Bruce died shortly thereafter at Harborview Medical Center, where treatment had failed to revive him. They also found cyanide in two bottles of Excedrin capsules Stella turned over to the police. She said that she didnt testify for the reward. 44 year old Stella Nickell, of Auburn, Washington, had been absolutely miserable with her life. Noonan claimed she bought so much algae destroyer, he had to special order it just for her. Another $300,000 was shared by nine people who helped police arrest a Florida man in 1986. Prosecutors said that Nickell had tampered with medication in several stores to cover up her husband's death. Nickell tampered with five additional bottles of Excedrin and placed them on store shelves in the Seattle area. On June 24th, a fifth bottle of cyanide-laced pills appeared on retail shelves in South King County. Judge wont release WA woman serving 90 years for planting poisoned pills, Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. This, in turn, brought in the FBI. Cindy told the FBI that her mother had wanted to kill recovering alcoholic Bruce because after he had gone through rehab and sobered up, he had become a bore. Bruce's insurance paid an extra $100,000 if he died by accident, including poisoning. But why would she bring the poisoning to police attention in the first place? They also posted a $100,000 reward. [7], A murder by cyanide was sensational news in Washington State. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. Stella Nickell, an Auburn woman who was sentenced to 90 years in prison for product-tampering that left two people dead, is seen here in 1987 at the age of 44. She told Farr that she is not sure her mother is really guilty. In the next 12 years, there would be a failed marriage and a second daughter. Her May 1988 conviction and prison sentence were the first . Her husband, Bruce, died after taking cyanide-laced Excedrin tablets in . Bruce's insurance paid an extra hundred thousand dollars if he died by accident, including poisoning. She originally called police and turned over two bottles of Excedrin. Cindy Hamilton was paid a $250,000 reward for her help in the case against her mother. Her husband, Bruce, died after taking cyanide-laced Excedrin tablets in 1986. [2] Tests by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the presence of cyanide in her husband's remains and in two Excedrin bottles Stella had turned over to police. She said she had bought the bottles on two occasions, one somewhere in Auburn, the other at Johnny's Market in Kent. Strength Excedrin is a safe medication. [7] His death initially was ruled to be by natural causes, with attending physicians citing emphysema. Dont miss out! Klein laments the fact that her mother missed every milestone in her life, like her wedding and the birth of her son, over the past 36 years. Stay up to date with what you want to know. The Food and drug administration and the manufacturer, Bristol - Meyers, moved quickly to remove all Extra - Strength Excedrin bottles from the shelves across the, The victims had taken it as a regular pill and did not realized it had Cyanide. In June 1986, two Auburn residents were killed by painkillers laced with cyanide. Although the defense challenged her credibility, the jury believed her and convicted Stella of fatally poisoning her husband and Sue Snow. [12] The FBI identified her fingerprints on cyanide-related pages of a number of the works she had checked out during this period. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Paramedics found her unconscious and gasping for breath. Because of product tampering legislation passed in response to the Chicago killings, these murders became a federal case. The next day, Bruce Nickell's widow Stella, a 42-year old raven-haired security screener at Seattle-Tacoma International airport, characterized by a neighbor as "a washed-up honky-tonk girl," called police. "I think that she probably killed Bruce and expected them to find out that he died from cyanide poisoning," he says. Stella also alleges that the evidence actually points to another person as the killer, and that the testimony about various smaller details in the case, such as the store owner who testified about her having purchased Algae Destroyer, was influenced by promises of payment. Olsen told Insider that Snow was a random victim who "paid for Stella's greed with her life." Now some top sleuths are trying to prove her innocence. Cindy told FBI investigators that Stella had researched toxic local plants and other poisons at local libraries. [2] The possibility of state charges for the actual murders of Bruce and Snow continues to exist. In a panic, Stella Nickell, 43, called police and said that her husband, Bruce, 52, had died on June 5, soon after taking an Excedrin capsule from the same lot as the ones that killed Snow.. Paramedics were called and transported Snow to Harborview Medical Center, but she died later that day without regaining consciousness. Stella appealed her conviction but none of her appeals succeeded. [2] The former was marked as overdue in library records, indicating that she had borrowed but never returned it. [5] On June 27, Washington State put into effect a 90-day ban on the sale of non-prescription medication in capsules. A few years later, though, she had a change of heart. She told police, and doctors realized that Bruce Nickell had also been poisoned. Snow died a few days later, after also taking Excedrin pills laced with cyanide. The FBI found Stella's fingerprints on several books. In early 1974, when she was 32, she met Bruce Nickell. [1][2], On June 5, 1986, the Nickells were living in Auburn, Washington, when Bruce, 52, came home from work with a headache. Officers broke open the capsules and found the powdered toxin inside. Farr and Ciolino talked to other people who were also rewarded for their role in the case. [1][2] Stella soon found herself in various legal issues, including a conviction for fraud in 1968, a charge of spousal abuse for beating Hamilton with a curtain rod in 1969, and a conviction for forgery in 1971. [17], Stella was sentenced to two terms of ninety years in prison for the deaths of Bruce and Snow, and three ten-year terms for the other product tampering charges. Nickell is the subject of a new book, "American Mother: The True Story of a Troubled Family, Motherhood and the Cyanide Murders That Shook the World." She became eligible in 2017 after serving 30 years of her 90-year sentence. Donald Harvey (April 15, 1952 - March 30, 2017) was an American serial killer who claimed to have murdered 87 people, though official estimates are between 37 and 57 victims. It was also featured in episode 93 of Casefile True Crime Podcast in August 2018. She lived with the Nickells months before Bruce died. She was sentenced to 90 years in prison for product tampering after she poisoned Excedrin capsules with lethal cyanide, resulting in the deaths of her husband Bruce Nickell and Sue Snow. Stella and Bruce Nickell married in 1976, shortly after seven people were killed in Chicago, Illinois, from poisoned Tylenol pills. Your email address will not be published. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Im afraid for her life: Riverside CC womens coach harassed after Title IX suit, Want to solve climate change? [2] Investigators examined the contents of the Snow-Webking household and discovered the source of the cyanide: the bottle of Excedrin capsules that both Snow and Webking had used the morning of Snow's death. A consortium of drug companies, alarmed about product tampering, posted a $300,000 reward. "I am not guilty," says Nickell. "The case brought the whole pharmaceutical industry to its knees," Olsen said. Records from the Auburn Public Library showed Stella had checked out numerous books on poisoning. "And I won't quit fighting until I prove it.". Nickell was convicted after police and FBI agents, following months of investigation, concluded she had laced her husbands Excedrin painkillers with cyanide to collect on his insurance, then planted poisoned pills in stores to throw off investigators. In the next 12 years, there would be a failed marriage and a second daughter. She added that "as negative as it is, I have chosen to learn from it and not become bitter. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { It was found among a thousand pages never turned over to the defense. Cindy said that her mother had talked of killing Bruce Nickell, at one point discussing hiring a hit man. Olsen said that Nickell told her daughter, Cindy Hamilton, about the scheme, despite their fractious relationship, and how she was inspired by the Tylenol deaths. Stella denies this, and says she told them she didn't know where she had bought the bottles. And she is completely capable of murdering again at 78 yrs old. or. [21] A second appeal, beginning in 2001, was filed by her new attorney, Carl Park Colbert, based on evidence obtained by private detectives Al Farr and Paul Ciolino, requesting a new trial on the basis of new evidence having been discovered that the FBI may have withheld documents from the defense. A more recent but undated photo of Stella Nickell. Never-before-seen photos and details about accused Idaho killer Some cite $71,000, some $75,000, and some $76,000. "I started reading books to find out what plants I might have on the property that would be a danger to kids and pets," Stella says. Stella Nickell grew up poor in the Pacific Northwest. A sweep of grocery and pharmacy shelves in King County produced another tainted bottle from Johnny's Market in Kent, and the lot number of the bottle recovered from Sue Snow's home was publicized. They are not sure where the dialogue will lead. Olsen said that Nickell's crimes have been the focus of a number of TV documentaries and books, including his own. Gregg Olsen, Bitter Almonds: The True Story of Mothers, Daughters, and the Seattle Cyanide Murders (New York: Warner Books, 1993); "Update 2002" in St. Martin's Press Paperback edition, 2002. Log In. Over a few weeks, Farr met with her twice. Snow was airlifted to the hospital, but she was declared brain dead a few hours later. She maintains her innocence, claiming her daughter lied for the reward money. But police investigators and the federal government still firmly believe she is guilty. Written by Gregg Olsen, the book includes interviews with Klein and Nickell's daughter, Cindy Hamilton. Trusted by millions of genealogists since 2003 Trusted information source for millions of people worldwide In the next 12 years, there would be a failed marriage and a second daughter. The reward is the second paid by the pharmaceutical group. All sentences were to run concurrently, and the judge ordered Stella to pay a small fine and forfeit her remaining assets to the families of her victims. The Seattle cyanide poisonings are the subject of several true-crime television episodes and at least one book Gregg Olsens Bitter Almonds, published in 2013. [5][7], Initial suspicions were directed at Bristol-Myers, with Stella and Webking filing wrongful death lawsuits against the company. Stella Nickell, 78, has served 34 years of her sentence and last month filed a petition arguing that her failing health and nearly spotless record should qualify her for early release. They say she was desperate to establish an accidental cause of death. "I think that she probably killed Bruce and expected them to find out that he died from cyanide poisoning," he says. [13], On December 9, 1987, Stella was indicted by a federal grand jury on five counts of product tampering, including two which resulted in the deaths of Bruce and Snow,[6][14] and arrested the same day. Nickell took advantage of the panic created by Snow's death and asked police to consider Bruce's case as part of their investigation. Elizabeth was born on July 31 1868. Authorities ruled his death to be from natural causesemphysema, the attending physicians said. Stella, who stood to lose $100,000 if his death wasnt ruled an accident, decided to alter her plan. [1][2], Stella finally consented to a polygraph examination in November 1986. Farr says that there is no credible evidence against her. Prosecutors: Security video discredits cosplay model's story of self-defense Seven people died in that case, which was never solved. Trending News View this record View. In 1986, the Nickells lived in Auburn, Washington, a suburb south of Seattle not far from SEA-TAC airport. "48 Hours": Brooke Skylar Richardson case Let's remember when Stella Nickell was convicted of tampering with Excedrin, on this day in 1988 (May 9) | by Chris Burlingame | Journal of Precipitation | Medium Write Sign up Sign In 500. She said that she acted in self-defense as a victim of domestic violence. According to Stellas daughter from a previous marriage, Stella had begun planning Bruces murder almost from the honeymoon. [9], Examination of the contaminated bottles by the FBI Crime Lab found that, in addition to containing cyanide powder, the poisoned capsules also contained flecks of an unknown green substance. But this time, pathologists smelled the telltale scent of bitter almonds during the autopsy, and determined that cyanide poisoning had killed Sue Snow. 48 Hours reports on the search. Find Nicholls's address, hospital affiliations and more. She is played by Zoe Colletti. A year and half after Bruce Nickell died, Stella Nickell was arrested and stood trial in federal court. Olsen says Hamilton and her mother had a combative relationship. Nearly two weeks later, she heard about Sue Snow. A federal judge has denied a plea for compassionate release from prison by an Auburn woman whos serving 90 years for planting poisoned pills that killed two and prompted national recalls of over-the-counter painkillers. A lawyer representing Stella told reporters that she was too "shaken up" to be subjected to the examination. Like last weeks case, this week deals with murder by poison. She had a history of abusing drugs. She'd told the staff that she needed it to kill ants. Then there was the insurance. She failed and investigators narrowed their focus to her even further. Then Stella Nickell's daughter, Cindy Hamilton, began talking to police. The teen called 911. Farr says that there is no credible evidence against her. LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED & Stella Nickell - The Seattle, Washington Excedrin Cyanide Murders | Listen Notes Search for birth, death, marriage, divorce, US Census, and military records. After building flatboats, de Soto and his 400 ragged troops crossed the great river under the cover of read more, On the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, armed members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) surrender to federal authorities, ending their 71-day siege of Wounded Knee, site of the infamous massacre of 300 Sioux by the U.S. 7th Cavalry in 1890. When emergency personnel arrived, she told them that Bruce had taken Excedrin capsules and fallen unconscious. With Snow dead, Stella could step forward and notify police. Stella Nickell's small-time world was one of big-time dreams. She claimed Stella admitted to researching poisons and told her of an unsuccessful attempt to poison Bruce with foxglove. Like cyanide poisoning. O n this day, May 9, in 1988, a Seattle woman was found guilty of killing her husband and another person by lacing Excedrin capsules with cyanide. The Free Encyclopedia of Washington State History. Background Report for Stella Chen. At the end of the movie, she won the prize for the scariest story ever. Stella Nickell had three life insurance policies on her husband. Stella Nickell laced painkillers with cyanide, murdering her husband and a random woman, Sue Snow. When she saw a news report about a woman dying from Excedrin capsules filled with cyanide, she called the police. Search for profiles by email and username. They had thought it was drug overdose, but she was not a known user, and had taken only a couple of Extra - Strength Excedrin. The FBI began an investigation into possible product tampering having been the source of the poison. Less than a week later, Sue Snow, a 40-year-old bank manager took two extra-strength Excedrin capsules for an early-morning headache. Read. [1] By the summer of 1987, even Stella's attorneys acknowledged that she was the prime suspect in the case. She was the first person to be found guilty of violating the Federal Anti-Tampering Act after putting cyanide in Excedrin capsules in an effort to kill her husband. The Chicago Tylenol case had resulted not only in the 1983 Federal Anti-Tampering Law under which she was charged, but FDA requirements that products be packaged with tamper-resistant technology such as blister-packs, bottle mouth seal covers, shrink wrap bottle covers, visible seals that must be broken to open the bottle, and taped box ends. Stella Nickell, then 75, had been sentenced to 90 years in prison in 1988, after she was found guilty of product tampering. Bruces heavy drinking suited Stella just fine. With Snow dead, Stella could step forward and notify police. The judge sentenced her to two 90-year terms for tampering with the bottles that caused the deaths of Bruce and Sue Snow. Later, however, he entered rehab and gave up the bottle. Nickell was the first to be convicted. The case was also featured in episodes of Autopsy, Forensic Files,[26] The New Detectives,[27] Mysteries at the Museum, and Snapped,[28] as well as two episodes of Deadly Women. They then looked toward Nickell. One June evening in 1986, he came home with a headache and four Excedrins. (CBS) Thirteen years ago, in Washington state, Stella Nickell was convicted of killing her husband Bruce, and Sue Snow, a bank manager, by putting cyanide in Excedrin capsules. But U.S. District Judge James Robart on Thursday found that Nickell, who has already twice been denied parole, doesnt qualify for compassionate relief. [5], Records from the Auburn Public Library, when subpoenaed, showed that Stella had checked out numerous books about poisons, including Human Poisonings from Native and Cultivated Plants and Deadly Harvest. 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