ROCHESTER, Minn. — A former Mayo Clinic doctor was charged with murder Monday in connection with the August death of his wife, after a medical examiner's report found toxic levels of a medication in her body that she had not been prescribed.
The Olmsted County Attorney's Office charged 30-year-old Connor Bowman with second-degree murder in the wake of his wife's death at a Rochester hospital on Aug. 20. If convicted, Bowman faces up to 40 years in prison.
The complaint said 32-year-old Betty Bowman sought medical attention at a local hospital on Aug. 16, where doctors determined she had "severe gastrointestinal distress" and observed that her "condition deteriorated rapidly."
When his wife was admitted, prosecutors said Bowman — an internal medicine doctor, and a former "poison specialist" at the University of Kansas — suggested his wife was suffering from a rare illness called Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). After his wife's death, court documents said Bowman told multiple people she succumbed to HLH, despite hospital lab tests coming back inconclusive for the condition.
The complaint also alleges Bowman requested his wife be cremated immediately without an autopsy following her death. Court records said Bowman spoke directly with death investigators through email during this time, allegedly asking if the toxicology screening would be "more thorough" than those typically done at a hospital, and additionally, which specific substances would be looked for.
In the weeks following Betty's death, a witness came forward with information about the victim and the couple, saying that they had been experiencing marital issues and were allegedly considering a divorce. Court documents said the witness also told investigators Bowman said he would get $500,000 in life insurance after his wife's death.
According to the complaint, another witness came forward following Betty's death, saying they had received a text message from her the day she was admitted to the hospital. The texts allegedly said she was "very ill" and that things were "going downhill." Documents said the witness went on to tell investigators that the victim was a typically healthy person.
After receiving reports that Bowman accessed his wife's patient account with his hospital credentials in the wake of her death, detectives then executed a search warrant for her electronic health records, as well as Bowman's online activity. The complaint said investigators found Bowman viewed her records daily from Aug. 20-23, allegedly modifying some of her information.
According to the complaint, investigators also learned Bowman had been a Poison Specialist at the University of Kansas after a witness from the university came forward. On Bowman's devices connected to the university's VPN network, authorities allege they were able to determine Bowman had researched "colchicine," a medication used to treat gout, and information about its lethality, while also searching phrases like, "internet browsing history: can it be used in court?,” “Police track package delivery,” and “delete Amazon data police.”
The search also yielded results for "liquid colchicine" and visits to a website where the substance was available for purchase online.
Medical examiners later determined Betty did have colchicine present in her blood and urine samples that were taken from both the hospital and post-mortem autopsy.
Bowman was subsequently arrested on Oct. 20 at his home, where law enforcement executed another search warrant. The complaint said they found a receipt for a $450,000 bank deposit inside.
He is currently being held on a $5 million, unconditional bond and his next court date is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 1.
Following Bowman's arrest, friends of Betty's, like Katherine Ulloa, talked to Rochester NBC affiliate KTTC, who she told that learning learning about Bowman's death in August was "devastating."
"It was so, so sad and I couldn't believe someone as young as Betty and as generally healthy as Betty could possibly happen," she said.
Another friend, Michaelyn Everhart, told KTTC that Betty will always be remembered for her positive outlook on life.
"...She wished us all happiness and hoped that we found beauty in our day, and that was just her," Everhart said.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and needs help, call 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 to be connected with someone from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline includes more options for support and identifiers of abuse on its website.
For Minnesota residents, Cornerstone MN offers resources and safe housing for domestic abuse survivors and crime victims. Call 1-866-223-1111 or chat online with the crisis hotline.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Bowman was a medical student.
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