Maryland to investigate Derek Chauvin defense witness' tenure as state's chief medical examiner

Maryland officials will conduct an investigation into all deaths that happened in police custody that were overseen by the state's former chief medical examiner, who testified as a defense witness in the trial for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

The retired forensic pathologist also said the fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyd's system, and possible carbon monoxide poisoning from auto exhaust, were contributing factors in his death. Fowler's testimony contradicted other experts who testified Floyd died due to a lack of oxygen. He also classified Floyd's manner of death as "undetermined," breaking from even Hennepin County’s medical examiner, who ruled it a homicide. The announcement of the investigation came from Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Friday, less than 24 hours after the Attorney General's Office received a letter from Washington, D.C.'s former chief medical examiner Roger Mitchell, and signed by 431 doctors from around the country, saying Fowler’s conclusions were so far outside the bounds of accepted forensic practice that all his previous work could come into question.