Betty Bowman death: Family of woman allegedly poisoned by husband exposes web of lies before her death

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES: The family of the woman allegedly killed by her husband, a Mayo Clinic doctor using gout medication, was aware of the couple's open marriage. However, they claim that she began discussing divorce because he refused to acknowledge his involvement with other women.

In an exclusive interview with a news source, Betty Bowman's mother and sister revealed that both Connor Bowman and his wife, Betty Bowman, had mutually agreed to explore relationships with other people, with the condition that they remained transparent about their respective romantic involvements.

Betty Bowman's family blamed Connor Bowman for 'lying' and playing 'mental games'

Betty's younger sister Brianna Stockemer said, "They did have an open relationship and they were both okay with that, but it was his lying!"

Connor Bowman informed Betty's family after his wife was admitted to the hospital and later joined them at her bedside to offer comfort during her final days, according to an exclusive interview with DailyMail.

Connor, 30, insisted to Betty's family that she was suffering from Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare disease causing her organs to shut down. The family had never heard of the condition but didn't think to ask questions despite knowing that the couple's affair was failing.

Nancy Sponsel, 64, the mother of the deceased, said on Tuesday, "Connor called me that first day and just said she's in the emergency room, that she's got diarrhea and stomach pains. That's when I first heard anything was even going on. He said the whole time, it's the HLH."

"Betty was very healthy and didn't have any medical problems," she continued. "We trusted him." According to investigations, Bowman, a poison control specialist, allegedly slipped a deadly dose of the gout medication colchicine into his wife's smoothie.

In the weeks before her death, they said, Betty was considering a divorce after eight years together and two years of marriage. They described her as a loving young woman trapped in a toxic relationship with a narcissistic and dishonest husband.

Betty said the couple agreed to let each other see other people as long as they were honest with each other, but he would frequently lie about his whereabouts, telling his wife that he was at work when he was having an affair.

"He lied a lot, and Betty would give him a lot of chances to fix things," said Brianna, 24. "But he would just keep lying and play a lot of mental games. It was a typical narcissistic relationship where you have a nice person who will give you a lot of chances."

Connor Bowman informed in-laws about wife suffering from HLH

Last April, Betty visited Wichita, surprising her mother by attending a dinner party hosted by Brianna. Betty spent the weekend caring for her ailing grandmother, who passed away with her.

Betty supported her mother's decision to leave her troubled marriage to her father, despite friends urging her to divorce.

However, Betty was admitted to intensive care on August 16, and they drove out that night. Betty was very weak, but she could talk but had no energy to eat or drink by herself.

The family was shocked by Betty's situation and the support she provided during a difficult time. Betty's husband said that she was suffering from HLH, an illness where white blood cells build up and cause internal damage.

Her mother, Nancy, said her daughter didn't recognize how sick she was and that she didn't want to worry about her situation. She was visited by friends and family members who tried to help her.

Betty's condition quickly deteriorated, and she lost consciousness on day three. Betty's family attended a funeral service Connor arranged in Rochester and held a Celebration of Life in Wichita on October 7, but Connor didn't show up.

The 30-year-old was arrested two weeks later. During the interview, Brianna and her husband showed off tattoos on their arms, a cartoon image of Betty's beloved pet corgi Crumpet holding a syringe.

A grand jury in Olmsted County, Minnesota, issued the indictment on January 5. Investigators said Betty was considered a healthy person before her passing and had experienced no previous symptoms of the disease.

A probable cause affidavit uncovered a relationship fraught with jealousy and turmoil. Bowman, who was in debt, also told a friend he was due for a $500,000 life insurance policy following her death.

Friends, many of whom were medical professionals themselves, are said to have suspected Bowman may have had a role in his wife's death.

Investigators assert Bowman used his Mayo Clinic email address to buy colchicine and used an online tool to calculate the lethal dosage for his wife's weight.

He also purchased sodium nitrate, a chemical compound that lowers blood pressure, and tried to blame Betty for fraudulently buying colchicine under his name. If convicted on the first-degree murder charge, Bowman will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.