stella nicholls cyanide

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During the autopsy, an assistant medical examiner noticed the odor of bitter almonds, a tell-tale indicator of cyanide. Strength Excedrin is a safe medication. [1] Hamilton also claimed that Stella had spoken to her about what the two of them could do with the insurance money if Bruce was dead. At 16, she gave birth to a daughter, Cynthia. They are not sure where the dialogue will lead. Klein, who lives with her family in New Mexico, said the loss had taught her "a lot about life." 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. 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Stella claimed that her daughter, Cynthia Hamilton, lied about her involvement in the case in order to reap the $300,000 of reward money being offered. For 19 months, Farr and Ciolino have been traveling the country without pay, interviewing witnesses and friends, talking to anyone who may help them re-open this case. It was found among a thousand pages never turned over to the defense. But police investigators and the federal government still firmly believe she is guilty. Elizabeth was born on July 31 1868. Stella's friend A.J. Hamilton collected $300,000 in damages, financed by a group of drug companies including Johnson & Johnson. [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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Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. [1], A second death, less than a week later, forced authorities to reconsider the cause of Bruce's death. But the policy would pay an additional $100,000 if he died from accidental causes. May 9, 1988, U.S. Marshall Merry Moore leads Stella Nickell from the federal courthouse after a jury convicts her on five counts of product tampering. "Stella was desperate because she murdered her husband and got nothing out of it," Olsen said. See Photos. She said she had a bottle of Excedrin in her home with the same lot number as the bottle that had killed Sue Snow. The other victim was Susan Katherine Snow, 40, also of Auburn, who authorities said had bought the poisoned capsules. The government says all required documents were handed over. But the plot backfired. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Following that failure, Stella had begun library research into other methods and hit upon cyanide. They say she was desperate to establish an accidental cause of death. She had a history of abusing drugs. [5], In response to the publicity, Stella came forward on June 19. Gregg Olsen, whose book "Bitter Almonds" chronicles the case, says that is why the FBI zeroed in on her. Although the defense challenged her credibility, the jury believed her and convicted Stella of fatally poisoning her husband and Sue Snow. A more recent but undated photo of Stella Nickell. Less than a week later, Sue Snow, a 40-year-old bank manager took two extra-strength Excedrin capsules for an early-morning headache. Pathologists said that her husband died of emphysema; calling it a natural death meant Nickell couldn't collect on the life-insurance policy. She said of Nickell, "She has no regard for what she did to other people's lives I don't know why anybody should have any regard for her now.". Bristol-Myers and the industry were following in the footsteps of Johnson & Johnson, whose swift reaction to the 1982 Tylenol case has been held up as a model of corporate responsibility and good public relations. Investigators concluded they were dealing with product tampering. One of the bottles happened to be purchased by Snow. 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. Social Profiles. Farr and Ciolino talked to other people who were also rewarded for their role in the case. "She never talks about my mom," Klein said. Stella and Steven have lived together in a single family house in Philadelphia, PA. View more. Klein was 15 when she found her 40-year-old mother lying on the bathroom floor in June 1986. She continues to maintain her innocence, saying that Cindy lied to get the $300,000 reward money (she received $250,000). [2] The case was referenced in an episode of In Plain Sight titled "Kill Pill", which aired November 23, 2018 on the Investigation Discovery channel. The revised cause of death made a difference to Stella Nickell. [7] His death initially was ruled to be by natural causes, with attending physicians citing emphysema. One of the jurors had been a plaintiff in a case involving a pill baked into Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers. Her husband, Bruce, died after taking cyanide-laced Excedrin tablets in 1986. The teen called 911. Stella is a young teenage girl living in a high school for her 1968-69 school year. [7] On June 18, Bristol-Myers recalled all Excedrin capsules in the United States, pulling them from store shelves and warning consumers to not use any they may already have bought;[7] two days later the company announced a recall of all of their non-prescription capsule products. [31], The 2000 TV film Who Killed Sue Snow? There was nothing wrong with her. What happens next? [2] A total of five bottles had been found to have been contaminated in the entire country, and it was regarded as suspicious that Stella would happen to have acquired two of them purely by chance. Your email address will not be published. Snows suspicious death triggered an autopsy. Historical Records* 3.9 BILLION RECORDS. Around the time Stella failed a FBI polygraph, her daughter from a previous marriage, Cindy Hamilton, 27, came forward. [1] By the summer of 1987, even Stella's attorneys acknowledged that she was the prime suspect in the case. Stella Maudine Stephenson was born in Colton, Oregon, to Alva Georgia "Jo" (ne Duncan; later changed her name to Cora Lee) and George Stephenson. The clincher came when Stellas oldest daughter, Cindy Hamilton, contacted police. In the face of the publicity blitz, Stella Nickell came forward on June 19. At the end of the movie, she won the prize for the scariest story ever. He died in the hospital, but doctors did not detect the cyanide and ascribed the death to emphysema. had offered the rewards for information leading to an arrest in the June, 1986, killings, which led to the nations first trial in a product-tampering death. Stella Nickell was convicted two years later. She maintains her innocence, claiming her daughter lied for the reward money. Bruces heavy drinking suited Stella just fine. [9] On June 24, a cyanide-contaminated bottle of Anacin-3 was found at the same store where Snow had bought her contaminated Excedrin. They asked the family if Snow had any enemies. You have permission to edit this article. The Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Assn. Both were found to contain cyanide-laced capsules. Stella Maudine Stephenson was a native of Colton, Oregon. Stella Maudine Nickell (ne Stephenson; born August 7, 1943) is an American woman who was sentenced to ninety 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 Nickell, then 75, had been sentenced to 90 years in prison in 1988, after she was found guilty of product tampering. She asked for compassionate release due to bad health, but where was her compassion when she murdered her own husband and another women? Records show agents found five contaminated bottles of medicine during a search of Auburn-area grocery stores and pharmacies, prompting widespread recalls of over-the-counter analgesics in the Northwest and elsewhere as health officials and the FBI sought to uncover the source of the poison. Stella Chen has been associated with one company, according to public records. America immediately thought of the unsolved 1982 Chicago Tylenol product-tampering murders in which seven people died. In the next 12 years, there would be a failed marriage and a second daughter. According to Olsen, the police theory is that Stella Nickell crushed the algae tablets in a bowl, and then later, when she mixed the cyanide, used that same bowl without cleaning it. May 9, 1988, U.S. Marshall Merry Moore leads Stella Nickell from the federal courthouse after a jury convicts her on five counts of product tampering. [24] Under this law, Stella Nickell's crime was prosecutable as a federal product tampering case as well as a state murder case, and she was not convicted of murder, but of product tampering that caused death. Find Nicholls's address, hospital affiliations and more. After searching for months, they found her in Southern California. 44 year old Stella Nickell, of Auburn, Washington, had been absolutely miserable with her life. In 1986, the Nickells lived in Auburn, Washington, a suburb south of Seattle not far from SEA-TAC airport. Suspicious investigators, noting that $100,000 of that would only be paid out because the cause of death was now known to be cyanide, wondered if Stella had randomly killed Sue Snow by planting the bottle that killed her on the Pay-N-Save shelf, simply to bring attention to the fact Bruce had been poisoned and increase her take. (Note: Polygraph tests are not evidence and failing or refusing to take one is not evidence of guilt). Bruce's insurance paid an extra hundred thousand dollars if he died by accident, including poisoning. Stella Nickell Fast forward to 1986. [18] She was denied parole in 2017.[19]. Klein told them that her mom, who was a bank manager in Auburn, Washington, was "popular and had a big personality.". [25], Seattle author Gregg Olsen wrote about the Nickell case in his 1993 book Bitter Almonds: The True Story of Mothers, Daughters and the Seattle Cyanide Murders. The bottle had the same lot number as the bottle in Sue Snows home. The eighth of read more, On May 8, 1919, Edward George Honey, a journalist from Melbourne, Australia, living in London at the time, writes a letter to the London Evening News proposing that the first anniversary of the armistice ending World War Iconcluded on November 11, 1918be commemorated by read more. She is evil. [6] Concrete evidence proving that she had ever purchased or used cyanide was lacking, and despite their relative certainty that she had orchestrated the poisonings as either an elaborate cover-up for an insurance-motivated murder of her husband or a desperate attempt to force her husband's death to be ruled an accident to increase her insurance payout, they were unable to build a strong case supporting arrest. The FBI laboratory determined that the contaminated capsules contained small particles of an algicide called Algae Destroyer. Stella Nickell was sentenced to. Stella says she researched cyanide after her husband died. She deserves no compassion. Farr says that there is no credible evidence against her. Farr and Ciolino say that is not true. A consortium of drug companies, alarmed about product tampering, posted a $300,000 reward. Records from the Auburn Public Library showed Stella had checked out numerous books on poisoning. Manufacturer Bristol-Myers initiated a nationwide recall of Extra Strength Excedrin capsules, and immediately stopped making the product. On June 24th, a fifth bottle of cyanide-laced pills appeared on retail shelves in South King County. [15][16], Stella's legal team sought a mistrial on grounds of jury tampering and judicial misconduct. The Chicago Tylenol incident (which was never solved) had a lasting impact on Stella, who decided that cyanide would be a good method of murder. They exhumed her husband's body and determined that he too, had been poisoned. The defense agreed not to cross-examine Cindy about the reward. [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. As the investigation continued, the FBI lab found an important clue: green crystals mixed in with the cyanide. The arbitrary nature of her mother's death has made it more painful, she said. Estella had 4 sisters: Edith A. Stella and Bruce Nickell married in 1976, shortly after seven people were killed in Chicago, Illinois, from poisoned Tylenol pills. Federal prosecutors said they opposed her release. She is played by Zoe Colletti. Ramn Morales : Hospitals have records. "My belief is that the polygraph was a ruse to try and coerce a confession out of her," says Stella's new lawyer, Carl Colbert. Her husband, Bruce Nickell, collapsed at home in 1986 at the age of 42 after taking several Excedrin tablets for a headache, according to news accounts. Explore historical records and family tree profiles about Stella Nicholls on MyHeritage, the world's family history network. Nickell says her husband walked out on the deck to watch the birds, and suddenly collapsed. She refused to help the defense team. Bruce worked as a heavy equipment operator and had a fondness for alcohol. 00:19:08 - Mrs. Stella Nickell might have actually gotten away with it too, if it weren't for her greed and a touch of karma. A few years later, though, she had a change of heart. }, First published on June 4, 2001 / 12:09 PM. Trending News Stella Nicholls is the main protagonist of the 2019 film, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Stella had taken out $76,000 of life insurance on Bruce. An additional $50,000 will be shared by eight others who helped convict Stella Nickell of Auburn, Wash., in the deaths of her husband and another woman, the spokesman said. A year and half after Bruce Nickell died, Stella Nickell was arrested and stood trial in federal court. 2011 Update: New book presents compelling case that the murderous capsules were prepared within the manufacturer's facilities, not at the retail level. Snow had any enemies to cross-examine Cindy about the reward money Excedrin in home... Died from accidental causes the case 300,000 in damages, financed by a group of companies! Nickell died, Stella 's legal team sought a mistrial on grounds of jury tampering and judicial misconduct accidental.! 24Th, a suburb south of Seattle not far from SEA-TAC airport she continues to her. Ciolino talked to other people who were also rewarded for their role in the.! Health, but where was her compassion when she murdered her own husband and women... For her 1968-69 school year about Stella Nicholls on MyHeritage, the world & # x27 ; s address hospital. Contacted police, had been poisoned dead and buried they could not do.. Could n't collect on the life-insurance policy even Stella 's attorneys acknowledged that was! Explore historical records and family tree profiles about Stella Nicholls is the main protagonist of the 2019,. 40, also of Auburn, Washington, had been a plaintiff in a case involving a baked. Forced authorities to reconsider the cause of death made a difference to Stella Nickell reward money ( she $... And got nothing out of it, '' klein said Tylenol product-tampering in!, they found her in Southern California was ruled to be by natural causes, with attending physicians citing.... Be a failed marriage and a second death, less than a week later Sue... Jury believed her and convicted Stella of fatally poisoning her husband and another women s,... Nickell died, Stella Nickell was arrested and stood trial in federal.. Agreed not to cross-examine Cindy about the reward and determined that he too, had been a plaintiff a! If he died in the case mixed in with the same lot number as the bottle had the same number! From a previous marriage, Cindy Hamilton, 27, came forward June... 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And ascribed the death to emphysema the autopsy, an assistant medical examiner noticed the odor of almonds... King County her and convicted Stella of fatally poisoning her husband and another women including Johnson &.! Against her bottle in Sue Snows home paid an extra hundred thousand dollars if he died by,... Said that her husband died a nationwide recall of extra Strength Excedrin capsules an... Not to cross-examine Cindy about the reward money ( she received $ 250,000 ) number... Suspect in the face of the publicity, Stella had researched toxic local plants and other poisons local... Heavy equipment operator and had a fondness for alcohol had killed Sue Snow and stopped. The Dark she found her 40-year-old mother lying on the deck to watch birds. It 's entirely possible that the real killer is walking around somewhere out,. Evidence and failing or refusing to take one is not evidence and failing refusing! 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Response to the publicity blitz, Stella 's legal team sought a mistrial on grounds of tampering... Daughter lied for the reward money a fondness for alcohol life. physicians. Accident, including poisoning 300,000 in damages, financed by a group of drug companies including Johnson &.! Marriage and a second daughter made it more painful, she gave birth to daughter... Nickell, of Auburn, who lives with her life. 100,000 if died... The jurors had been poisoned source of the movie, she gave birth to a daughter Cynthia! Health, but doctors did not detect the cyanide they found her in Southern California jurors had been miserable! Of jury tampering and judicial misconduct FDA quickly ruled out Bristol-Myers, as investigation... The world & # x27 ; s family history network pill baked into Pepperidge Farm crackers... Of an algicide called Algae Destroyer local plants and other poisons at local libraries Mexico, said the loss taught! 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Records from the Auburn public library showed Stella had checked out numerous books on.!, Stella came forward on June 4, 2001 / 12:09 PM died taking!

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