A Minnesota man was charged on Monday with killing his wife in August by poisoning her.
Connor Bowman, a medical resident at the Mayo Clinic, allegedly gave Betty Bowman, 32, liquid colchicine, a medication used to treat gout. The Post Bulletin reported that Betty Bowman, who did not have gout, died three days after she went to the hospital for diarrhea and dehydration.
According to Bring Me the News, Betty Bowman underwent surgery for a necrotic colon after showing symptoms similar to food poisoning. She reportedly also suffered from organ failure, cardiac issues, and fluid in her lungs.
Connor Bowman allegedly suggested that his wife had hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a rare ailment that leads to white blood cells attacking other blood cells. However, a test to detect this ailment reportedly came back inconclusive.
Bring Me the News reported that Connor Bowman tried to stop an autopsy of his wife by having her immediately cremated. However, the medical examiner had the cremation canceled due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
Connor Bowman allegedly questioned detectives about what is checked during toxicology analysis. He had also searched online for colchicine even though he nor his co-workers had any calls regarding the medication, Bring Me The News reported.
Investigators claimed the Bowmans were having marital issues and were considering divorce. KSTP reported that the couple kept separate bank accounts due to Connor Bowman’s death.
Connor Bowman allegedly told someone that he was going to get $500,000 from his late wife’s life insurance policy. Investigators also alleged that the doctor accessed his wife’s electronic health records before and after her death. According to KTSP, he eventually added himself to his wife’s care team to bypass entering his credentials when accessing her records.
The night before she got sick, Betty Bowman, a pharmacist, reportedly texted someone that she was drinking at home with her husband. The next morning she said she “thought it was a drink she had received that caused her illness because it was mixed in a large smoothie,” a complaint stated.
Toxicology analysis determined there were elevated levels of colchicine in Betty Bowman’s blood and urine. The medical examiner noted that it was taken 24 hours before she arrived at the hospital, noting that the medication metabolizes quickly.
Connor Bowman is charged with second-degree murder. Investigators located a receipt for $450,000 in his home at the time of his arrest, according to KTSP.
Mayo Clinic said in a statement that Connor Bowman’s resident training ended earlier this month. He remains jailed on $2 million bail.
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[Featured image: Connor and Betty Bowman/LinkedIn]
