June 11, 1986, began as an ordinary Wednesday for Susan Snow, but it quickly turned tragic. Shortly after taking two Excedrin capsules, she collapsed and died later that day in an Auburn, Washington hospital, devastating her husband and daughters.

The initial shock soon morphed into grim suspicion when tests revealed the Excedrin pills were laced with cyanide. As news broke, Stella Nickell's name emerged. She claimed her husband, Bruce, might have suffered a similar fate after taking Excedrin before his sudden death.

The news ignited widespread fear, drawing comparisons to the 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders, which instilled deep distrust in over-the-counter medications. Excedrin's manufacturer swiftly issued a recall to quell growing public panic.

The police investigation revealed five contaminated Excedrin bottles. Microscopic examination confirmed the presence of cyanide crystals in the capsules. Investigators deduced the poison was introduced using a bowl typically used for crushing algae tablets for fish tanks. Adding to the intrigue, two of the contaminated bottles were found in Stella Nickell's home, near an aquarium.

A deeper look into Nickell's life revealed a complex and troubled past. She had her daughter, Cynthia, at 16 and frequently moved with her mother. The investigation uncovered a history of forgery, fraud, and allegations of child abuse. Cynthia eventually moved out, married, and started her own family.

Suspicion surrounding Stella Nickell intensified when investigators discovered three life insurance policies on her husband, Bruce. The cyanide-laced Excedrin in her home, Bruce's similar death, and the substantial life insurance payouts presented a compelling motive for investigators.

The investigation into Susan Snow's death unexpectedly shifted focus to Stella Nickell. Although circumstantial, the evidence began to suggest a narrative of motive and opportunity, casting doubt on the grieving widow. The Excedrin murders became an examination into the life and alleged involvement of the woman who initially presented herself as a victim's spouse.

The question loomed: Was Stella Nickell a grieving widow or the mastermind behind a deadly scheme?
After her divorce from Bruce Nickell, Stella Nickell moved back to her mother's residence in Auburn, Washington, where she and her young daughter, Cynthia, lived in a small trailer. However, Nickell was deeply unhappy. Cynthia noticed her mother's disturbing obsession with poisons; she spent a lot of time reading about their deadly effects.

This unsettling interest escalated when Nickell started talking about how easily she could kill her husband, Bruce, and make it seem like he had overdosed. Cynthia couldn't help but notice the terrifying similarities between her mother's ideas and the recent Tylenol murders in Chicago, where cyanide had been used to poison over-the-counter medication.

Tragedy struck with Bruce's death, which was initially attributed to pulmonary emphysema in the coroner's report. But Cynthia harboured strong suspicions about her mother's involvement, especially after Susan Snow died and a toxicology report confirmed cyanide poisoning. In January 1987, driven by her uneasiness and the growing evidence, Cynthia went to the police.

Cynthia's information became a critical breakthrough in the investigation. She revealed that Bruce had significant life insurance policies, totalling $176,000. However, these policies had a key condition: they would only be paid out if Bruce's death was ruled accidental. Since the initial cause of death was emphysema, the insurance payout was significantly reduced, more than halved. Allegedly, in an attempt to claim the full insurance payout, Nickell devised a horrifying plan. To make Bruce's death appear accidental and to potentially divert suspicion, she needed another seemingly random cyanide poisoning.

Tragically, Susan Snow became that victim. Nickell then contaminated three more bottles of Excedrin and strategically placed them in local stores to create the impression of a widespread tampering incident, similar to the Tylenol case. Unfortunately, Snow happened to purchase one of these fatally tainted bottles.
In May 1988, based on the compelling evidence, Stella Nickell was sentenced to 90 years in prison for the product-tampering deaths of Bruce Nickell and Susan Snow.

It's important to note that there was no direct physical evidence linking her to the act of poisoning the capsules. The prosecution's case heavily relied on Cynthia's powerful testimony, which included firsthand accounts of her mother's fascination with poison and her discussions about killing Bruce. Further adding to the complexity of the case, Bristol-Myers, the manufacturer of Excedrin, offered Cynthia a $250,000 reward for her crucial contributions. Despite her conviction and the compelling circumstantial evidence, Stella Nickell has consistently maintained her innocence, which leaves a lingering sense of unease and unresolved questions surrounding this disturbing case of calculated deception and deadly intentions.

Reference:

• The True Crime File, Kim Daly

Written By: Md.Imran Wahab, IPS, IGP, Provisioning, West Bengal
Email: imranwahab216@gmail.com, Ph no: 9836576565