Two autopsies both find George Floyd died by homicide, but differ on some key details
By Erin Donaghue
June 4, 2020 / 10:15 AM / CBS News
George Floyd, the Minnesota man who died after an officer arresting him pressed his knee onto his neck, died by homicide, according to the results of two autopsies released on Monday — one by the county medical examiner and the other by independent pathologists commissioned by Floyd's family. But the two autopsy reports differed on exactly how the man died.
Dr. Allecia Wilson, one of the pathologists who conducted the independent autopsy, said Monday afternoon that Floyd died as a result of mechanical asphyxiation.
But the report released later Monday by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office said Floyd died of "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression." The manner of death was ruled homicide, but the office noted that "is not a legal determination of culpability or intent." A preliminary autopsy report cited earlier by prosecutors said the county medical examiner's review "revealed no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation."
Floyd's death has led to widespread outrage, protests and unrest across the nation. The Minneapolis officer seen kneeling on Floyd's neck, Derek Chauvin, was charged last week with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The independent autopsy was conducted by Wilson and Dr. Michael Baden. Baden is the former chief medical examiner of New York City, and was also hired in 2014 to conduct the autopsy of Eric Garner, a black man who died when an NYPD officer used a banned chokehold during his arrest. Both Garner and Floyd pleaded with officers that they couldn't breathe before their deaths seen on disturbing videos, and "I can't breathe" has become a rallying cry among those protesting police brutality.
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George Floyd, left, and former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with third-degree murder for Floyd's death.
Baden said Floyd died as a result of compression on his neck and back from the officer, which interfered with blood flow and his breathing.
That autopsy will be shredded in court because it didn't rely on science. It was a forensic specialist paid to come to a specific result. The county autopsy will hold up.
homeagain wrote: READ the link Fred....it states there is a fund being set up for the community...they are SHARING the $$$$.
500,000 DOLLARS TO BE EXACT and asking companies to donate in kind to the community.....
That is not what I was asking. Floyd was a scumbag, with numerous felonies in his past. Will the family use the money to help out Floyd's long line of victims? His multi-state crime spree horrible. If his family has any conscience, they will pay the victims of their son.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
homeagain wrote: READ the link Fred....it states there is a fund being set up for the community...they are SHARING the $$$$.
500,000 DOLLARS TO BE EXACT and asking companies to donate in kind to the community.....
That is not what I was asking. Floyd was a scumbag, with numerous felonies in his past. Will the family use the money to help out Floyd's long line of victims? His multi-state crime spree horrible. If his family has any conscience, they will pay the victims of their son.
Good points, but I doubt the family will spend the money on anything but themselves (other than the 500k) Any of the people who were victimized by Floyd should sue these new millionaires to get their piece of justice.
The left is angry because they are now being judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.
