EPISODE · Mar 2, 2026 · 51 MIN
The Poisoned Heiress: The 1987 Murder of Patsy Wright | Signal 51 Chronicles Case 4 Pt.1
from The Sunset Lounge DFW · host Stolen Water Media LLC
In Episode 11 of Signal 51 Chronicles, John Henry and Jake White take you deep into one of the most chilling and perplexing true crime cases in Texas history — the 1987 strychnine poisoning of Dallas heiress Patsy Bolton Wright. Born into wealth and legacy, Patsy Wright was the daughter of Texas oilman Tom Bolton and heir to the Palace of Wax Museum empire in Arlington, Texas. A Highland Park socialite turned cutting horse competitor, she was living between two worlds — high society galas and dusty rodeo arenas — when her life ended violently in the early morning hours of October 22, 1987. Her final words: “I’ve taken some NyQuil and something’s really, really wrong.” What investigators uncovered would shock Arlington Police, the FBI, and even the EPA. Toxicology revealed strychnine — a rare, highly restricted poison — laced inside a bottle of NyQuil found beside her bed This wasn’t random product tampering like the infamous Tylenol murders. This was personal. In this episode, we explore: • Patsy Wright’s life inside the Texas Wax Museum empire • The suspicious fire tied to ex-husband Bob Cox • A high-stakes gambler with financial motive • A cutting horse couple with financial ties • A chemical company owner linked to another violent death • The stalking, restraining orders, and threats • How rare strychnine poisoning really is • Why someone would need inside knowledge of her NyQuil habit From country club card rooms to horse ranches in Aledo, this case weaves together wealth, betrayal, business rivalries, romantic deception, and calculated murder. This is Part 1 of the Patsy Wright case — and the twists are only beginning. If you’re into true crime podcasts, unsolved Texas murders, 1980s crime cases, wealthy family secrets, poisoning investigations, or high-profile homicide cases — this episode is for you. Subscribe to Signal 51 Chronicles for weekly deep dives into real murder cases, criminal investigations, and the darker corners of human behavior. Chapters: 00:00 – The Case of the Poisoned Heiress Begins 01:14 – Bizarre Police Stories & Undercover Tales 16:07 – Who Was Patsy Bolton Wright? Dallas Heiress & Wax Museum Royalty 20:06 – Marriage, Money & The High-Society Gamble 25:02 – The 3AM NyQuil Call: “Something’s Really, Really Wrong” 30:43 – Autopsy Shock: Strychnine Poisoning Confirmed 32:30 – FBI, EPA & The Product Tampering Theory 34:46 – The Suspect List: Ex-Husbands, Horse Trainers & Hidden Motives 47:46 – The Chemical Connection & Another Dead Girlfriend 49:47 – What Happens Next? Part 2 Preview Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfw Tiktok: sunsetloungedfw X: SunsetLoungeDFW FB: Sunset Lounge DFW
What this episode covers
In Episode 11 of Signal 51 Chronicles, John Henry and Jake White take you deep into one of the most chilling and perplexing true crime cases in Texas history — the 1987 strychnine poisoning of Dallas heiress Patsy Bolton Wright. Born into wealth and legacy, Patsy Wright was the daughter of Texas oilman Tom Bolton and heir to the Palace of Wax Museum empire in Arlington, Texas. A Highland Park socialite turned cutting horse competitor, she was living between two worlds — high society galas and dusty rodeo arenas — when her life ended violently in the early morning hours of October 22, 1987. Her final words:“I’ve taken some NyQuil and something’s really, really wrong.” What investigators uncovered would shock Arlington Police, the FBI, and even the EPA. Toxicology revealed strychnine — a rare, highly restricted poison — laced inside a bottle of NyQuil found beside her bed This wasn’t random product tampering like the infamous Tylenol murders. This was personal. In this episode, we explore: • Patsy Wright’s life inside the Texas Wax Museum empire• The suspicious fire tied to ex-husband Bob Cox• A high-stakes gambler with financial motive• A cutting horse couple with financial ties• A chemical company owner linked to another violent death• The stalking, restraining orders, and threats• How rare strychnine poisoning really is• Why someone would need inside knowledge of her NyQuil habit From country club card rooms to horse ranches in Aledo, this case weaves together wealth, betrayal, business rivalries, romantic deception, and calculated murder. This is Part 1 of the Patsy Wright case — and the twists are only beginning. If you’re into true crime podcasts, unsolved Texas murders, 1980s crime cases, wealthy family secrets, poisoning investigations, or high-profile homicide cases — this episode is for you. Subscribe to Signal 51 Chronicles for weekly deep dives into real murder cases, criminal investigations, and the darker corners of human behavior. Chapters: 00:00 – The Case of the Poisoned Heiress Begins01:14 – Bizarre Police Stories & Undercover Tales16:07 – Who Was Patsy Bolton Wright? Dallas Heiress & Wax Museum Royalty20:06 – Marriage, Money & The High-Society Gamble25:02 – The 3AM NyQuil Call: “Something’s Really, Really Wrong”30:43 – Autopsy Shock: Strychnine Poisoning Confirmed32:30 – FBI, EPA & The Product Tampering Theory34:46 – The Suspect List: Ex-Husbands, Horse Trainers & Hidden Motives47:46 – The Chemical Connection & Another Dead Girlfriend49:47 – What Happens Next? Part 2 Preview Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfwTiktok: sunsetloungedfwX: SunsetLoungeDFWFB: Sunset Lounge DFW
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The Poisoned Heiress: The 1987 Murder of Patsy Wright | Signal 51 Chronicles Case 4 Pt.1
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