Dr. Connor Bowman, a former Mayo Clinic doctor, has been accused of poisoning his wife, pharmacist Betty Bowman, after their open marriage failed. Betty fell seriously ill and died from organ failure in Rochester, Minnesota, allegedly after ingesting a drug used to treat gout. A new 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 details on his conversations on the app and when he changed his marital status on his profile.
According to the search warrant, Bowman had been communicating with multiple women on the dating app around the time of his wife’s death. Witnesses claimed that Bowman had identified himself as a widower on his Bumble profile and gave different stories about his wife’s death to different women. One woman stated that Bowman told her his wife died from listeria poisoning, while another believed Betty had died earlier from an overdose of morphine. A third woman noted that Bowman brought up receiving a large life insurance payout after Betty’s death.
Betty Bowman’s health rapidly deteriorated, leading to heart problems, fluid buildup in her lungs, and the removal of part of her colon before succumbing to organ failure. Toxicology reports showed the presence of colchicine, a drug used to treat gout, in her system after her hospitalization. Despite Betty’s symptoms resembling food poisoning, Bowman allegedly tried to prevent an autopsy and insisted on immediate cremation, claiming her death was natural. He mentioned in her obituary that she suffered from a rare illness called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).
Investigations into Bowman’s actions and statements regarding his wife’s death have raised suspicions about his involvement and motives. Records show that he had searched for the gender-neutral/masculine version of the word “widow” on his phone days before Betty’s death. Furthermore, conversations with women on the Bumble app suggested that Bowman was eager to move on from his wife’s death and had already made plans using a substantial life insurance payout he received. Bowman faces first- and second-degree murder charges over Betty’s death and is currently held on $2 million bail.
Friends of Betty Bowman revealed to authorities that her marriage to Dr. Bowman was troubled due to infidelity and multiple issues, including emotional connections with other women. The couple was reportedly in an open relationship, but Betty became unhappy with Bowman’s relationship with another woman, leading to threats of divorce. The ongoing investigation into Connor Bowman’s conduct and actions surrounding his wife’s death will likely reveal more details about the case. Bowman is expected to appear in court on June 11 to face the murder charges against him in connection to Betty’s tragic and suspicious death.
