Claims on social media that a new autopsy report for George Floyd shows he died from a drug overdose, not police actions, are incorrect. The report from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, released on June 3, 2020, remains unchanged.
Assessment
The autopsy report confirms that Floyd died from cardiopulmonary arrest. This condition resulted from law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression, not a drug overdose.
Misinformation Circulation
As the anniversary of Floyd’s death approached, misleading information circulated. Social media posts shared a page from the existing report, presenting it as new evidence. The page lists drugs in Floyd’s system and mentions no life-threatening injuries identified. However, this page is part of the original report from 2020.
A tweet falsely claimed that the report showed Floyd died from drugs and gained significant attention. It ignores the complete report’s conclusion of homicide.
Official Confirmation
Carolyn Marinan from Hennepin County confirmed no changes to the report since June 1, 2020.
John Stiles from the Minnesota Attorney General’s office emphasized the shared image adds nothing new to the case. During Derek Chauvin’s trial for Floyd’s murder, defense attorneys highlighted drugs found in Floyd’s system. However, the court concluded Floyd’s death was due to the police restraint, and Chauvin received a prison sentence. Three other former officers also received sentences.
Expert Opinions
Prosecution experts at the trial refuted claims of an overdose as the cause of death. Independent experts state underlying health issues and drug presence didn’t change the homicide conclusion. While the report noted no life-threatening injuries, experts clarify this doesn’t rule out asphyxia.
John Stiles noted that wording in misleading social media posts shows an incomplete understanding of autopsy report limits, particularly in identifying death by asphyxiation.
AP continues efforts to address misinformation, partnering with various companies and organizations to offer context to misleading online content. For more information on their fact-checking work, visit AP’s fact-checking page.