Poison sciences can be an invigorating endeavor as well as a lucrative one, given the precision of chemicals and substances to measure and concoct a product out of and sell it for immense cash. On the other side of the sword, these are the individuals well-equipped to take down anyone by slipping in lethal dosages of drugs they concoct to cover a grudge. Worst of all? Most of the time, the deaths are administered as ‘food poisoning’, making it impossible to trace the perpetrator.
However, the case that People reported is different in the sense that the perpetrator did get caught in a lie. The outlet reported a Minnesota man, Connor Bowman, being charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of his 32-year-old wife, Betty Bowman, according to authorities, and was booked into the Olmsted County Jail in Rochester, Minnesota, on Friday, according to reports gathered by People.
According to KSTP and ABC News 19, authorities reported to People that the 32-year-old wife was admitted to the hospital with symptoms that resembled food poisoning. People report that four days later, she died of a sudden onset autoimmune and infectious illness, as reiterated by an online obituary. CBS Minnesota and KSTP reported via People that Connor, 30, was arrested two months after her death and accused of killing her.
According to People, The National Library Of Medicine states that ‘ the substance is used for treating gout, but can be fatal if administered at a high dosage — which is anything over 0.5mg/kg. Connor had allegedly conducted online searches to determine Betty’s weight in milligrams and then multiplied that by 08. mg, according to the criminal complaint that got him arrested.’ Adding to the invigorating search engine of Connor, the investigating authorities pointed out that his searches reflected purchase queries for the quality of the substance just five days before her death. Additionally, the search history also reflected queries on whether internet searches can be used in court and about deleting Amazon data.
One Sarah Leeser organized a GoFundMe page for Betty and stated the personality of the deceased victim, Betty, was remembered as “a light to so many people.” Leeser is currently raising funds for Betty’s mother, Nancy Sponsel, for assistance regarding memorial costs, legal costs, and other bills, as reported by People.
Both Betty and Connor worked at the University of Kansas, according to People(via CBS), where Betty was a pharmacist, and Connor was a medical student who also worked as a poison specialist. An online obituary commented on Betty’s personality as obtained by People, “Betty inspired and encouraged others to be their truest selves,” adding, “As a vibrant and outgoing young woman, Betty lived life to the fullest-including never missing the opportunity to travel and experience a new place.”
Cases like these are tricky to prevent, but a stricter protocol and monitoring of poison-specialized buying and using substances outside of work must be enforced and stringently. It is only then that such innate fallacies can be avoided.