A man will appear in court tomorrow for fatally poisoning his wife with colchicine, a gout medication.
- A man will appear in court this November 1 for killing his wife by poisoning her with colchicine.
- Colchicine is a medicine for gout and familial Mediterranean fever.
- Poisoning linked to this type of medication is rare but can be serious or even fatal.
As is often the case, reality surpasses fiction. This is evidenced by the story of the man who will appear in court this November 1 for having killed his wife by poisoning her with colchicine, a drug used to treat gout.
Colchicine in the victim’s blood and urine
Connor Bowman, 30, was arrested on Friday, October 20, 2023, according to the documents provided by the Olmsted County Court, United States. On August 16, his wife Betty was rushed to hospital due to severe gastrointestinal distress and severe dehydration that medical staff initially thought was food poisoning. Her condition deteriorated rapidly and she died on August 20 following vital organ failure.
The next day, the medical examiner informed local police that he found Betty’s death suspicious, prompting an investigation. During their research, police learned that the couple was in the process of divorcing following infidelity and a deterioration in their relationship. They were also informed that the day before she was admitted to the emergency room, Betty had sent a message to a friend explaining that she was having a drink with her husband, as a result of which she had been ill all night. They also discovered that Connor Bowman had studied medicine and pharmacy while also working at a poison control center.
Alerted by this profile, the investigators requested a new toxicological assessment of Betty’s body, the results of which revealed the presence of colchicine in her blood and urine even though there was no indication that this medication had been prescribed to her.
What are the symptoms of colchicine poisoning?
“Colchicine is an alkaloid extracted from two plants of the liliaceae family, autumn colchicum (Colchicum autumnale) and glorious lily (Gloriosa superba), having several curative properties, including anti-inflammatory effects recognized as beneficial since centuries to relieve gout patients and to treat familial Mediterranean fever”, precise the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec.
The dangerousness of colchicine depends on the dose ingested. Poisoning linked to this type of medication is rare but can be serious or even fatal (respiratory, cardiovascular, hematological, neurological damage, etc.).
“The first symptoms of colchicine overdose are digestive: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. Patients must be informed and know how to recognize these suggestive signs. If they are present, they must consult the doctor quickly and the dosage of colchicine must be reduced or the treatment stopped”, concludes the Vidal.
