Boise's "Unknown Wanderer" is identified after 43 years. Could he be linked to Chicago Tylenol murders?
Updated on: September 23, 2026 / 4:16 PM CDT / CBS Chicago
TL;DR
- The "Unknown Wanderer," a man found dead in a Boise church in 1982, was identified as Dr. Mathew Francis Betkouski using DNA evidence.
- Investigators found a key belonging to Betkouski with a marking linking to Jacksonville, Florida, which led to identifying him through his surviving brother.
- Betkouski had a documented fascination with chemistry and explosives, a history of mental illness, and writings indicating an interest in Chicago.
- Among Betkouski's belongings were a hand-drawn map of Chicago, photos of him in the Chicago area, and a bottle of homemade cyanide.
- While Betkouski cannot be placed in Chicago during the 1982 Tylenol murders, investigators are exploring a possible link due to his possessions and cause of death (cyanide poisoning).
- Boise police have shared their findings with Chicago police, who are reviewing the information as the Tylenol murders remain an open cold case.
- James Lewis, the previous prime suspect in the Tylenol murders, was never charged with the murders and died in 2023.