False Claims About George Floyd’s Cause of Death Resurface

Recent social media claims suggest a new autopsy report for George Floyd has emerged, indicating he died from a drug overdose rather than from police actions. However, these assertions are incorrect. The autopsy report by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office has remained unchanged since its release on June 3, 2020. While Floyd had fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system, the report concluded his death was from cardiopulmonary arrest, not an overdose.

Social Media Misinformation

As the third anniversary of Floyd’s death approached, social media users circulated what they falsely labeled as new evidence about the nature of his death. A page from the autopsy report listing drugs in Floyd’s system and stating “no life-threatening injuries identified” was shared widely. Misleading posts claimed this page was a newly released document.

One tweet falsely stated the coroner’s report declared that drugs, not police officers, were the cause of Floyd’s death. This post gained significant traction with substantial likes and shares. However, these claims ignore that the prior page in the report determined the cause of death to be a homicide due to “cardiopulmonary arrest” caused by “law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression.”

Official Clarifications

Carolyn Marinan, a spokesperson for Hennepin County, emphasized that the report remains unchanged since June 1, 2020. John Stiles, deputy chief of staff for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, confirmed that the widely circulated page is from the original 2020 autopsy, presenting no new information. During Derek Chauvin’s trial, defense attorneys highlighted the presence of drugs in Floyd’s system, but Chauvin was ultimately found guilty of murder and sentenced to over 22 years in prison. Other officers involved also received prison sentences.

Expert Opinions

Experts testified during the trial that Floyd’s death was not due to an overdose or drug use. Independent experts have stated that underlying health issues and drug use do not alter the homicide conclusion. Conditions present in Floyd increased his vulnerability to stress, but did not cause his death. Although “no life-threatening injuries” were found, experts noted that this does not rule out asphyxia, as signs may not be visible on the body. Stiles referred to social media assertions as “cherry-picked” and highlighted the limitations of autopsies in diagnosing asphyxiation.

This article is part of ongoing efforts to debunk widespread misinformation, featuring collaboration with external organizations to provide factual context to misleading online content.