The Seattle Cyanide Murders Podcast
Podcast Episodes Shop the Brewery

The Seattle Cyanide Murders

In Episode 227

To say that Stella Nickell had a rough upbringing would be a huge understatement. She had a childhood of poverty, neglect, and abuse. At 16, she gave birth to a daughter. In the years that followed, she had numerous failed relationships, a failed marriage, and spent time in jail. In early 1974, when she was 32, she met Bruce Nickell and they married.
One summer day in 1986, Bruce came home with a headache and took four Excedrin capsules. Stella said that her husband walked out on the back deck and suddenly collapsed. He was taken by helicopter to a Seattle hospital where he died. Doctors said Bruce died from emphysema, but Stella said that never made sense.
Almost two weeks later, Stella heard about the death of 40-year old Sue Snow. News reports said that the woman had died after swallowing cyanide-laced Excedrin. Stella immediately called the police to report that Bruce, too, had taken Excedrin right before he died.
Police initially focused on Sue Snow’s husband Paul Webking for her murder. But the call from Stella Nickell led to the conclusion that Sue Snow was not the only person killed by the poisoned headache medicine. Excedrin capsules were recalled and an investigation for murders by product tampering began.
Join us at the quiet end today for a discussion of the Seattle Cyanide Murders. There is no doubt that it is a heartless act to kill a spouse, but what kind of a person kills at random?

1:17:40
Apr 02 2019
True Crime
3
0
  • Podcast Archive

  • Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Subscribe Now

    Join Team Tiegrabber and subscribe to our premium podcasts


    You get access to our members-only True Crime Brewery Premium episodes and other members-only true crime content.


    In appreciation, Jill will send you a thank you gift of your choice.

    Pick from a True Crime Brewery beer snifter, a True Crime Brewery credit-card sized bottle opener, or a set of coasters!

    True Crime Newsletter

    Enjoying True Crime Brewery?


    Then you’ll want to receive our quarterly true crime podcast newsletter.


    The True Crime Brewery newsletter is just the thing to feed your true crime addiction. Packed with case updates, true crime show and book reviews, listener-contributed articles, craft beer news, meet up plans and contest announcements

    Get the latest from Tiegrabber Podcasts

    Listen

    You can listen to the True Crime Brewery podcast here on the site or on the podcast app of your choice