 During an autopsy on Susan Snow , Assistant Medical Examiner Janet Miller detected the scent of bitter almonds , an odor distinctive to cyanide . Tests verified that Snow had died of acute cyanide poisoning . Investigators examined the contents of the Snow @-@ Webking household and discovered the source of the cyanide : the bottle of Extra @-@ Strength Excedrin capsules that both Snow and Webking had used the morning of Snow 's death . Three capsules out of those that remained in the 60 @-@ capsule bottle were found to be laced with cyanide in toxic quantities . 
