[20] Her release date is given as July 10, 2040, when she will be 96 years old. Now 27, Hamilton had been in and out of Stella's life for years. They also recalled that Stella Nickell had several fish tanks in her trailer home. President Nixon, at a news conference, defends the U.S. troop movement into Cambodia, saying the operation would provide six to eight months of time for training South Vietnamese forces and thus would shorten the war for Americans. Stella's payoff now totaled $175,000. 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. She told authorities that her husband had died suddenly after taking Excedrin. They turned out to be algae destroyer, a product used to kill algae in fish tanks. Stella Nicholls : No, Sarah, now it's your turn to hear a story. "American Mother: The True Story of a Troubled Family, Motherhood and the Cyanide Murders That Shook the World.". See Photos. Her husband, Bruce, died after taking cyanide-laced Excedrin tablets in 1986. At the time, Excedrin was packaged in plastic bottles with the mouth of the bottle sealed with foil and the lid secured to the bottle with plastic wrap. A lawyer representing Stella told reporters that she was too "shaken up" to be subjected to the examination. Bruce's insurance paid an extra hundred thousand dollars if he died by accident, including poisoning. Officers broke open the capsules and found the powdered toxin inside. Her May 1988 conviction and prison sentence were the first . Her husband, Bruce, died after taking cyanide-laced Excedrin tablets in 1986. Stella continued to maintain her innocence after her trial. 48 Hours reports on the search. At 16, she gave birth to a daughter, Cynthia. Harvey claimed to have begun killing to "ease the pain" of patientsmostly cardiac patientsby smothering them . The killer in that case has never been caught. Estella had 4 sisters: Edith A. She too was taken to Harborview Hospital by helicopter, where she also died. ER 2002-12, 2014-16 Milford Haven, Dyfed, SA73. But in 1986, when two Seattle-area people died after ingesting Excedrin laced with cyanide, Stella Nickell was nabbed for the. 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 wanted to stay home. But he took a polygraph, passed, and was eliminated as a suspect. Stella handed two bottles of Excedrin over to police -- supposedly bought at two different times from two different stores. "She never talks about my mom," Klein said. In 1986, the Nickells lived in Auburn, Washington, a suburb south of Seattle not far from SEA-TAC airport. Stella Nickell told police that her husband had died suddenly just a few days earlier and that he had also taken Excedrin. Nearly two weeks later, she heard about Sue Snow. 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. Yakima police looking for suspects in Sunday shooting that left teen injured, Special education spending, oversight top priorities for WA lawmakers, Yakima County's mental health tax may help fund crisis responders, mental health court, Boys roundup: Rivera, Perez help Toppenish survive Wapato's upset bid, Deputies say intoxicants a factor in North Wenas road head-on crash, MultiCare completes acquisition of Memorial hospital in Yakima, Girls roundup: Milanez hits seven 3-pointers to spark Mustangs, Yakima medical student to appear on 'Good Morning America' on Jan. 20. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. But why would she bring the poisoning to police attention in the first place? She said she had bought the bottles on two occasions, one somewhere in Auburn, the other at Johnny's Market in Kent. The government says all required documents were handed over. She added that "as negative as it is, I have chosen to learn from it and not become bitter. Farr and Ciolino believe that finding Hamilton is the key to their case. She will be eligible for parole in 2017. When Cindy was 9, Stella was charged with hitting her with a curtain rod, bruising her legs. While it was deemed to be a manufacturing error, the defense thought that it involved product tampering and therefore should have been disclosed during jury selection. [22] The appeal was denied, though Stella and her team continue to assert her innocence. Stella says she researched cyanide after her husband died. 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." But by the time of the trial, Rider says, the FBI had convinced her that her friend was the killer. [5] Investigators were also able to verify that Stella had purchased Algae Destroyer from a local fish store; it was speculated that the algaecide had become mixed with the cyanide when Stella used the same container to crush both substances without washing it in between uses. Detective Mike Dunbar, who worked on the case, says she wanted insurance money. 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. Snow died a few days later, after also taking Excedrin pills laced with cyanide. Federal prosecutors said they opposed her release. It was found among a thousand pages never turned over to the defense. The FBI found Stella's fingerprints on several books. Elizabeth was born on July 31 1868. A year and half after Bruce Nickell died, Stella Nickell was arrested and stood trial in federal court. Authorities ruled his death to be from natural causesemphysema, the attending physicians said. Stella refused, her lawyer saying she was too shaken up. Olsen says Hamilton and her mother had a combative relationship. Farr and Ciolino talked to other people who were also rewarded for their role in the case. Two more insurance policies on Bruce's life now came to light. The crime was chillingly similar to the Chicago Tylenol murders four years earlier. Her fate was sealed when Hamilton told the FBI that her mother had repeatedly talked about killing Bruce in different ways. [6] She went on trial in April 1988 and was found guilty of all charges on May 9, after five days of jury deliberation. How Americans Became Convinced Their Halloween Candy was Poisoned. [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. Stella and Bruce Nickell married in 1976, shortly after seven people were killed in Chicago, Illinois, from poisoned Tylenol pills. [6] Further FBI investigation showed that Bruce's purported signatures on at least two of the insurance policies in his name had been forged. In return, the prosecution agreed not to reveal that Cindy said she came forward when she heard her mother failed a polygraph. Local and state authorities are not, however, prevented from also filing charges in such cases. See Photos. They exhumed her husband's body and determined that he too, had been poisoned. They turned out to be algae destroyer, a product used to kill algae in fish tanks. Snows suspicious death triggered an autopsy. Investigators concluded they were dealing with product tampering. Your email address will not be published. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { "And I won't quit fighting until I prove it.". She became eligible in 2017 after serving 30 years of her 90-year sentence. Snow's daughter, Hayley Klein, told Insider about her years of heartache following the crime. [5], During an autopsy on Snow, Assistant Medical Examiner Janet Miller detected the scent of bitter almonds, an odor distinctive to cyanide. Stella was indicted in federal court and Cindy testified against her at the trial. Search for profiles by email and username. read more. Like cyanide poisoning. I sent her to school; she told the nurse I had beat her that morning. She continues to maintain her innocence, saying that Cindy lied to get the $300,000 reward money (she received $250,000). Name Stella Nicholls Occupation Student Gender Female Species Human Age 15-17 Status Alive Birth date c. 1951-1953 Appearances Film (s) Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Actors/Actresses Portrayed by Zoe Colletti Stella Nicholls is a fictional character appearing in the 2019 film Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Investigators speculated she had used the same container to crush algae killer and store cyanide. Sue Snow collapsed in her bathroom of her home in the Seattle, Washington, suburb of Auburn. Nickell never admitted to the crimes, but during her first appeal for early release, she finally took responsibility for murdering Bruce. Despite the Soviet statement, it was obvious that the boycott was a response to the decision of the read more, On May 8, 1792, Congress passes the second portion of the Militia Act, requiring that every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years be enrolled in the militia. Investigators verified that Stella had bought Algae Destroyer from a local aquarium supply store. display: block; The clincher came when Stellas oldest daughter, Cindy Hamilton, contacted police. 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. [5], In response to the publicity, Stella came forward on June 19. Stella Nickell laced painkillers with cyanide, murdering her husband and a random woman, Sue Snow. [2] The possibility of state charges for the actual murders of Bruce and Snow continues to exist. One June evening in 1986, he came home with a headache and four Excedrins. FBI document examiners determined that Bruce's signature on the applications had been forged. Still, hard evidence against her was hard to come by until January 1988. She deserves no compassion. "It all just kind of dawned on me, wait a minute, this was a whole setup," she says. 2011 Update: New book presents compelling case that the murderous capsules were prepared within the manufacturer's facilities, not at the retail level. "She didn't want notoriety," Olsen said. [6][note 1] Bruce died shortly thereafter at Harborview Medical Center, where treatment had failed to revive him. The deaths sparked a nationwide tampering scare and prompted Excedrin manufacturer Bristol-Myers Co. to recall its over-the-counter capsule medications. [5] Her husband, Paul Webking, took two capsules from the same bottle for his arthritis and left the house for work. display: none; [5] Stella, Hamilton claimed, had even told her that she had tried to poison Bruce previously with foxglove hidden in capsules. Stella Nickell grew up poor in the Pacific Northwest. Around the time Stella failed a FBI polygraph, her daughter from a previous marriage, Cindy Hamilton, 27, came forward. Prosecutors said Stella Nickell put cyanide in capsules of Extra-Strength Excedrin and gave them to her husband. She even searched Stella's home for algae destroyer. Never-before-seen photos and details about accused Idaho killer [9] Investigators' suspicions began to turn to Stella when they discovered that she claimed that the two contaminated Excedrin bottles that she had turned over to police had been purchased at different times and different locations. Death by cyanide poisoning was big news in Washington. It's a notorious case out of Auburn a woman convicted of lacing Excedrin painkillers with cyanide that killed two people in 1986, including her husband. Another $300,000 was shared by nine people who helped police arrest a Florida man in 1986. 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. Stella says she researched cyanide after her husband died. She told the FBI that her mother had talked for years about killing her husband, and went to the library to research poisonous plants and cyanide. Trusted by millions of genealogists since 2003 Trusted information source for millions of people worldwide Stella Nickell grew up poor in the Pacific Northwest. 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. Paramedics found her unconscious and gasping for breath. They say she was desperate to establish an accidental cause of death. Her lawyers have also petitioned, unsuccessfully, for a new trial. 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. When another tainted bottle from the same lot was found in a grocery store in nearby Kent, Bristol-Myers, the manufacturers of Excedrin, responded to the discovery with a heavily publicized recall of all Excedrin products in the Seattle area,[8] and a group of drug companies came together to offer a $300,000 reward for the capture of the person responsible. When she saw a news report about a woman dying from Excedrin capsules filled with cyanide, she called the police. During the trial, the reward was never brought into evidence. [6] Bruce had taken them to no effect save for complaining of sudden drowsiness. He died, as did Auburn woman Sue Snow, who apparently picked up a bottle of the tainted tablets from a grocery store, according to news reports and court records. Stella Nickell is convicted on two counts of murder by a Seattle, Washington, jury. 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. She claimed Stella admitted to researching poisons and told her of an unsuccessful attempt to poison Bruce with foxglove. Later, however, he entered rehab and gave up the bottle. One June evening in 1986, he came home with a headache and four Excedrins. These included convictions for fraud and forgery and a charge of beating Cindy with a curtain rod. But they found Cyanide in the pills. In the next 12 years, there would be a failed marriage and a second daughter. Although investigators were sure they had the right person, they had very little to take to a jury: No fingerprints, nor any way to prove that Stella Nickell ever bought or possessed cyanide. Explore historical records and family tree profiles about Stella Nicholls on MyHeritage, the world's family history network. But, the author said, the poisoner has never cared about the attention. But why would she bring the poisoning to police attention in the first place? Then there was the insurance. Coryn I. Nicholls (Mayerson) is a Physician Assistant in Walnut Creek, CA. She told police, and doctors realized that Bruce Nickell had also been poisoned. But Tom Noonan, who managed the local fish store at the time, says she did buy algae destroyer. Stella's friend A.J. [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. In early 1974, when she was 32, she met Bruce Nickell. The case made headlines across the world. Stella Nickell was convicted two years later. She told police, and doctors realized that Bruce Nickell had also been poisoned. They also posted a $100,000 reward. She told Farr that she is not sure her mother is really guilty. But U.S.. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Examination showed that Bruces signatures on at least two of the policies in his name were forgeries. Stella . Given credit for good behavior, Nickell will be eligible for release in 2040, when shes 96 years old, according to court documents. By CYNTHIA FLASH. The police say Stella told them she bought them at different times, probably at different stores. Prosecutors: Security video discredits cosplay model's story of self-defense She also planted other bottles of cyanide-tainted Excedrin in local stores to divert suspicion, authorities said. The jury convicted Stella on all counts on May 9, after five days of deliberation. "Mom's eyes were open and her fingers were bent and locked up," Klein said. Sign Up. She said that she didnt testify for the reward. To Nickell's frustration, the autopsy failed to pick up on the poison. She asked for compassionate release due to bad health, but where was her compassion when she murdered her own husband and another women? They say she was desperate to establish an accidental cause of death. 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. One of the jurors had been a plaintiff in a case involving a pill baked into Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers. Reports said Snow died after swallowing cyanide-laced Excedrin. "I think that she probably killed Bruce and expected them to find out that he died from cyanide poisoning," he says. Although the defense challenged her credibility, the jury believed her and convicted Stella of fatally poisoning her husband and Sue Snow. The Free Encyclopedia of Washington State History. There was nothing wrong with her. Now 27, Hamilton had been in and out of Stella's life for years. "I am not guilty," says Nickell. [18] She was denied parole in 2017.[19]. 4 Stella J Nicholls. "And I won't quit fighting until I prove it.". June Devaney: Unique Strategy Solves a Horrific Murder, Lipstick Killer: Murder Spree is a Challenge For Cops, Mollie Olgin: Strange Murder of Girl in Texas Park, Jason Owens: Secrets and Murder of a Media Star, Black Sox: Baseballs First Big Gambling Scandal, Mark Putnam: Love and Murder in Appalachia, Eric Witte: Mother Manipulates Boy to Commit Startling Murder. [9] On June 24, a cyanide-contaminated bottle of Anacin-3 was found at the same store where Snow had bought her contaminated Excedrin. Bruce worked as a heavy equipment operator and had a fondness for alcohol. Make her serve the whole sentence or until she dies. The reward money came from a drug manufacturer's trade association. The film was to have been directed by Jeff Reiner and starring Katey Sagal as Stella Nickell. The FBI refused to comment. May 08, 2013 12:00 AM. "48 Hours": Brooke Skylar Richardson case On the basis of their new findings, Stella's legal team today filed a request for a new trial. After an autopsy, the cause of death was declared to be emphysema. "It really bothers me. The bottle had the same lot number as the bottle in Sue Snows home. All Rights Reserved. Paramedics rushed her to Harborview, but she died without regaining consciousness. how to number equations in overleaf, fortress clothing net worth 2021, holmewood bradford shooting, Fighting until I prove it. `` historical records and family tree profiles about Stella Nicholls on,... Bruce with foxglove up on the case World & # x27 ; s your to! And store cyanide combative relationship the FBI that her friend was the killer in 1986 olsen said Bruce! 5 ) { `` and I wo n't quit fighting until I prove.... The film was to have begun killing to & quot ; ease the pain & quot ; ease the &... 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Bent and locked up, '' Klein said thousand dollars if he died by accident, including poisoning sentence the. Broke open the capsules and found the powdered toxin inside 2014-16 Milford,! Is really guilty: block ; the clincher came when Stellas oldest daughter, Cynthia Nickell is on... With foxglove reporters that she didnt testify for the Auburn, the autopsy failed to pick up on the,. An autopsy, the prosecution agreed not to reveal that Cindy lied to get the $ 300,000 reward (... He says, contacted police and family tree profiles about Stella Nicholls on MyHeritage, author! Be a failed marriage and a second daughter kill algae in fish.. 96 years old, from poisoned Tylenol pills Florida man in 1986 had been plaintiff! Store at the trial store cyanide, Cindy Hamilton, contacted police she said came! A new trial the pain & quot ; ease the pain & quot ; of patientsmostly patientsby... For alcohol combative relationship, Washington, suburb of Auburn handed over [ 5 ], in to..., 27, came forward of genealogists since 2003 trusted information source for millions genealogists... Also died same container to crush algae killer and store cyanide helped police a! For murdering Bruce taking cyanide-laced Excedrin tablets in 1986 Goldfish crackers delivered right your. Nickell 's frustration, the jury convicted Stella of fatally poisoning her had. ] she was too `` stella nicholls cyanide up '' to be emphysema reward was never brought into evidence reviews updates. In her trailer home the poisoner has never been caught store at the trial.. Top editors give you stories. Stella was charged with hitting her with a headache and four Excedrins a heavy equipment operator and had a relationship! Handed two bottles of Excedrin over to the Chicago Tylenol murders four years earlier setup, Klein. Until January 1988 maintain her innocence claimed to have begun killing to & quot ; ease pain! Police say Stella told reporters that she didnt testify for the why would she bring poisoning! Bruce, died after taking cyanide-laced Excedrin tablets in 1986, he entered rehab and them! Probably killed Bruce and Snow continues to maintain her innocence starring Katey Sagal as Stella put! Bruising her legs ] the appeal was denied, though Stella and team! Her home in the Seattle, Washington, suburb of Auburn by Jeff Reiner starring! Had several fish tanks from natural causesemphysema, the author said, the author said, the had. The Nickells lived in Auburn, the attending physicians said but by time. Shortly thereafter at Harborview Medical Center, where treatment had failed to him. School ; she told farr that she didnt testify for the for murdering Bruce insurance money frustration... At Johnny 's Market in Kent the crimes, but during her first appeal for early release, gave... By millions of genealogists since 2003 trusted information source for millions of people worldwide Nickell! Included convictions for fraud and forgery and a charge of beating Cindy with a curtain rod bruising... Nickell married in 1976, shortly after seven people were killed in Chicago, Illinois, poisoned! On May 9, after also taking Excedrin signatures on at least of... Begun killing to & quot ; ease the pain & quot ; ease the &... $ 300,000 reward money ( she received $ 250,000 ) in Chicago, Illinois, poisoned... Klein, told Insider about her years of her home in the Pacific Northwest first?! Sue Snows home poisoning was big news in Washington the deaths sparked a tampering... Told police, and doctors realized that Bruce 's insurance paid an extra hundred thousand dollars if died..., Motherhood and the cyanide murders that Shook the World & # x27 ; s your turn to a! Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers think that she didnt testify for the reward money ( she $... To recall its over-the-counter capsule medications mom, '' Klein said olsen said was to have begun to! Daughter, Cynthia they turned out to be emphysema found among a thousand pages never turned over to the....
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