On Christmas Eve in 1926, a man came running into Bellevue Hospital in New York screaming that Santa Claus had been chasing him for blocks with a baseball bat. Not long after that, he died. And then another person arrived in the emergency room. And then another. This started happening in emergency rooms around the country. And it was happening because of a plan created by the U.S. government. Deborah Blum’s book is ⁠The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York⁠ (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/301154/the-poisoners-handbook-by-deborah-blum/). Criminal is a show about people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Hosted by Phoebe Judge. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Join Criminal Plus on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, listener chat rooms, behind-the-scenes content, and more membership perks. https://www.patreon.com/Criminal Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. https://pod.link/809264944 Say hello on Twitter (https://twitter.com/criminalshow) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/criminal_podcast) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thisiscriminal) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@criminal_podcast) Sign up for our occasional newsletter, which includes a note from Phoebe, behind-the-scenes photos, and things our team has been enjoying lately. https://thisiscriminal.com/newsletter We also make the podcasts This is Love (https://pod.link/1337100398) and Phoebe Reads a Mystery (https://pod.link/1503921457). Artwork by Julienne Alexander: http://www.yssrs.com/. Check out our online shop: https://shop.thisiscriminal.com/ Episode 358 originally published March 27, 2026. https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-358-the-formula-3-27-2026 Music in this episode: “Pxl Eventuat” by Blue Dot Sessions “Junaluska” by Blue Dot Sessions “Code 6” by Blue Dot Sessions “Inamorata” by Blue Dot Sessions “House of Grendel” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cigar Singles” by Blue Dot Sessions “Relay 7” by Blue Dot Sessions “Footsteps on Alden” by Blue Dot Sessions “Lenses” by Blue Dot Sessions “Milkwood” by Blue Dot Sessions “Valantis” by Blue Dot Sessions