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Crime, Law and Justice
Catharine Richert
Rochester, Minn.

Former Mayo doctor charged with fatally poisoning wife

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A former doctor at Mayo Clinic in Rochester faces charges for allegedly fatally poisoning his wife last summer.

Connor Bowman, 30, was charged Monday in Olmsted County with second-degree murder in the death of his wife Betty, who was a pharmacist at Mayo Clinic.

Connor Bowman made his initial court appearance on Monday morning. Bail was set at $2 million with conditions, $5 million without. He’s due back in court on Nov. 1.

According to the complaint: Betty Bowman was admitted to Mayo Clinic on Aug. 16 with gastrointestinal distress and dehydration. She did not respond to treatment, and her condition deteriorated rapidly. She died on Aug. 20 at age 32.

An autopsy found that her death was caused by the toxic effects of colchicine, a drug typically used to treat gout — a condition Betty Bowman wasn’t being treated for.

According to the charges, Connor Bowman had suggested his wife’s death was from a rare condition called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, or HLH. Hospital tests for HLH were inconclusive.

Bowman allegedly attempted to stop an autopsy of his wife’s remains and sought to have them cremated immediately. Meanwhile, an investigation by law enforcement found that the couple were discussing divorce and that Connor Bowman reportedly was set to receive a $500,000 life insurance payment following his wife’s death.

The investigation also found forensic evidence from Connor Bowman’s devices — including one that he used as a poison specialist at the University of Kansas — that showed he was researching colchicine. University officials told investigators that Bowman hadn’t received any calls related to colchicine.

His internet searches also included “internet browsing history: can it be used in court?” as well as research about other substances that can be lethal.

In a statement, Mayo Clinic officials said that they are aware of Connor Bowman’s arrest, and that his residency at Mayo ended earlier this month.

A coworker of Betty Bowman spoke with the Rochester Post-Bulletin. Jason Herold — who said he trained Bowman — recalled that she was “smart, experienced, she’s hard-working and just a really good asset to Mayo,” in addition to being a “really really nice” person.