When Betty Bowman died this past summer, her family and friends were shocked. She was a healthy and active 32-year-old woman who was known for her kindness and zest for life. They reasoned that these unpredictable events happen sometimes. Still, at the time of her death, authorities ruled it suspicious.
Now, months later, her husband, Dr. Connor Bowman, has been charged with second-degree murder after he was accused of poisoning his late wife.
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Betty Bowman was suffering from diarrhea and dehydration when she was admitted to the hospital.
Betty Bowman was admitted to the hospital on August 16, according to NBC News. She had been suffering from symptoms of diarrhea and dehydration. While there, she was plagued with cardiac issues.
There was fluid in her lungs, and her organs began failing. During her stay, she also had surgery to remove a part of her colon, all to no avail. She eventually died on August 20.
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The medical examiner flagged Betty Bowman's death as suspicious.
But that didn’t stop Connor Bowman from trying to move on with her final arrangements. Instead of opting for a traditional burial, he wanted his wife cremated right away. The medical examiner’s office halted the cremation, however, after her death was ruled suspicious. Later, Connor Bowman made attempts to cancel the autopsy, Fox 9 reported.
Eventually, police learned that the couple were having both financial problems and marital issues. They also discovered that Connor Bowman had said he would get a significant life insurance payout at the time of her death.
A tipster led police to Connor Bowman.
A source reportedly told investigators that the Bowmans “were talking about a divorce following infidelity and a deteriorating relationship.”
A tipster told police that Connor Bowman had attended pharmacy school, worked in poison control in Kansas, and was currently in medical school. He also was in such severe debt that the couple kept separate bank accounts, according to NBC News. The tipster said Connor Bowman shared that he was going to get $500,000 in life insurance funds after his wife died.
Police now suspect that he had given her a drug for an ailment she did not have.
Connor Bowman also had been researching the drug colchicine online.
Colchicine is a drug used to treat gout. Betty Bowman’s toxicology report showed that the drug was in her blood and urine, which had been collected when she was admitted to the hospital, according to Fox 9. She did not have gout and was not given the drug during her hospital stay before her death.
The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be the toxic effects of colchicine and the manner of death to be homicide.
Betty Bowman is remembered fondly by her loved ones.
The couple, who married in 2021, were both in the medical field. She worked as a pharmacist and in the operating room at the Mayo Clinic, and he was an internal medicine resident. Betty Bowman, a foodie and world traveler, has been remembered fondly by those around her.
“Betty’s love was boundless, and it extended far beyond the confines of family and friends. Her warm smile, kind words, and caring actions left an indelible mark on our hearts," her mother wrote in a statement, per NBC News. "Betty had a passion for life that was infectious. She lived life to the fullest, embracing each day with enthusiasm and joy.”
As for Connor Bowman, his unconditional bond has been set at $5 million. A $2 million bond was set with the restriction that he abstain from drugs and alcohol, be monitored by a GPS, and stay in Minnesota unless he has written approval from the court to leave, according to NBC News. He has not posted bond and was being housed in Olmsted County Adult Detention Center.
