Derek Chauvin's 'worried' mom Carolyn Pawlenty slams prison wardens after son stabbed by inmate

TUCSON, ARIZONA: Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was stabbed by a fellow inmate at the federal prison in Tucson, Arizona, where he is serving time for the murder of George Floyd.

Chauvin's family and attorneys were not notified of the attack or his condition, only finding out the details through media reports the next day, as per Daily Mail.

Derek Chauvin's mother Carolyn Pawlenty blasts prison officials for not informing her

Chauvin's mother Carolyn Pawlenty blasted prison officials for failing to inform her, saying that she spent a sleepless night pacing after learning from the news her son had been "stabbed and is now hospitalized and needing lifesaving measures."

Pawlenty told Alpha News she was "worried and scared" and could "not even think what to say." She said it was "unacceptable" that she found out her son was stabbed from reporters first when the prison has her listed as his emergency contact.

"How the hell do these news agencies know and his own mother doesn't even know?" she asked, adding, "And that [prison] has an emergency contact number [for me]."

Chauvin's attorney Gregory M Erickson also condemned the lack of information, saying the failure to notify Chauvin's family was "completely unacceptable" and showed major issues with the prison's procedures and institutional control. He said the family still does not know Chauvin's condition or location days after the attack.

This stonewalling stands in contrast to Chauvin being held in the public spotlight for over two years since his arrest for Floyd's murder. Pawlenty pleaded to the court at his sentencing that "the public will never know the loving and caring man he is. But his family does."

Derek Chauvin moved to medium-security Tucson prison over safety concerns

Chauvin, a 19-year Minneapolis police veteran, was convicted in April 2021 for Floyd's May 2020 murder. Video showed Chauvin kneeling on the handcuffed Floyd's neck for over 9 minutes as Floyd said he couldn't breathe.

Chauvin was given a 22-and-a-half-year state sentence for second-degree murder and faces 21 years on federal civil rights charges. He had been imprisoned in Minnesota before being moved to the medium-security Tucson prison in August 2022 due to safety concerns.

His stabbing comes amid scrutiny of the prison for ongoing issues. Last November, an inmate there gained access to a firearm and attempted to shoot a visitor.

Chauvin is now recovering under unknown circumstances. His family remains desperate for answers on his condition. His mother said, "There is no stronger love than a mother's love." But so far, that love has not been enough to get prison officials to respond.