The former Mayo Clinic doctor, Dr. Connor Bowman, is facing murder charges after his wife, pharmacist Betty Bowman, died from organ failure in August allegedly due to being poisoned. A search warrant revealed that Bowman may have referred to himself as a widower on the dating app Bumble even before his wife’s death. Investigators are seeking information from Bumble to confirm when his marital status was changed on the app, and his phone records show searches for the word “widow” just two days before his wife’s death.
In addition to potentially identifying himself as a widower on the dating app, Bowman allegedly gave different stories about his wife’s death to women he matched with after her passing. One woman reported that Bowman said his wife died from listeria poisoning, while another was led to believe she died a year ago from an overdose of morphine. Another woman said Bowman brought up a large life insurance payout he had received and used it to pay off student loans, just nine days after his wife’s death. Bowman was arrested in October and charged with first and second-degree murder in connection with his wife’s death.
After his wife’s death, Bowman reportedly tried to prevent an autopsy and pushed for her immediate cremation, claiming her death was natural. He stated in her obituary that she suffered from a rare illness called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Friends of Betty claimed the couple was in an open relationship, but Bowman had developed an emotional connection to another woman, leading his wife to threaten divorce. The couple’s marriage was reportedly crumbling due to infidelity and other issues.
Betty Bowman, a pharmacist who worked at the Mayo Clinic, was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of food poisoning, which quickly escalated to heart problems, fluid buildup in her lungs, and organ failure. Toxicology reports revealed the presence of the drug colchicine, used to treat gout, in her system. Bowman’s alleged actions in the aftermath of his wife’s death and the discrepancies in the stories he told about her passing raised suspicions among investigators. Bowman is currently being held in the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center on $2 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court on June 11.
The case against Dr. Connor Bowman centers around allegations that he poisoned his wife, Betty Bowman, leading to her death from organ failure. The search warrant revealed potential evidence linking Bowman to his wife’s death, including interactions on a dating app and conflicting stories shared with women he met online. The circumstances surrounding Betty’s death, including Bowman’s attempts to prevent an autopsy and discrepancies in his accounts of what happened, have raised suspicions among investigators. Bowman is currently facing murder charges and is being held on bail pending his court appearance in June.