Boise’s ‘Unknown Wanderer’ Identified After 43 Years; Possible Link to Chicago Tylenol Murders
Boise police identify the 'Unknown Wanderer' found in 1982, raising questions about his possible connection to the unsolved Chicago Tylenol murders.
POLICY WIRE — Boise, Idaho — Authorities in Boise, Idaho, have finally identified the so-called ‘Unknown Wanderer,’ a man discovered dead in a church in 1982, and revealed intriguing potential ties to the unresolved Chicago Tylenol poisonings.
The Ada County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that while they cannot place the man in Chicago during the final week of September 1982—when the poisonings occurred—they have shared evidence with Chicago police, including a hand-drawn map of the city, photographs, and a bottle of homemade cyanide.
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The man, now identified as Dr. Matthew Francis Betkouski, had no identification when he was found on December 4, 1982, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church. His belongings included a Seiko watch, a bolo tie, nearly 30 keys, and $1,900 in cash. A typed note signed ‘William L. Toomey’ was also found, though it was later determined to be a false name. Investigators say they are not naming him as a suspect in the Tylenol case but are still exploring connections between him and the Chicago area at the time.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
