False Claims About George Floyd’s Autopsy Report Circulate on Social Media

The claim that a new autopsy report for George Floyd released in 2023 indicates he died from a drug overdose is incorrect. Social media is circulating a page from the 2020 autopsy report released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office. This report, made public on June 3, 2020, has not been altered. It concludes Floyd’s death was caused by ‘cardiopulmonary arrest’ and not an overdose, despite the presence of fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system.

The Facts

As the anniversary of Floyd’s death approached, some social media users began sharing outdated information as supposed new evidence. They circulated a page from the 2020 autopsy report, falsely claiming it had never been publicly available before. This page lists the drugs in Floyd’s system and mentions there were ‘no life-threatening injuries identified.’

One popular post falsely announced, ‘BREAKING NEWS: George Floyd full autopsy released,’ pointing to the previously reported drugs and the absence of life-threatening injuries. Another tweet misleadingly asserted, ‘the coroner’s report says Floyd died from drugs – not COPS.’

The image being shared is merely the second page of the 2020 autopsy report. It provides no new insights regarding Floyd’s death. Notably, the previous page of the report confirms the cause of death as ‘homicide’ due to ‘law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression.’

Carolyn Marinan, a spokesperson for Hennepin County, clarified that the report ‘has not been amended or changed since it was finalized on June 1, 2020.’

John Stiles, deputy chief of staff for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, also noted that the online image ‘is a page ripped from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s 2020 autopsy’ and does not reveal new information.

Trial and Expert Opinions

During Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, his defense emphasized Floyd’s drug consumption. Chauvin, the officer seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck, was found guilty and received a sentence exceeding 22 years. Three other former officers involved in Floyd’s arrest also faced prison sentences.

Prosecutor-called expert witnesses during the trial concluded Floyd did not succumb to an overdose. They asserted that his drug use did not negate the finding of ‘homicide.’ These experts explained that underlying medical problems and drug presence increased his susceptibility to stress-related complications but did not alter the homicide conclusion.

Independent experts have informed AP that while no severe physical injury signs were visible in the neck area, this omission does not eliminate the possibility of asphyxia. Absence of evidence of physical injury does not imply asphyxia did not occur.

Stiles labeled the selective use of these phrases in misleading online posts as ‘cherry-picked’ and highlighted the limitations of autopsies in diagnosing asphyxia-related deaths.

This report is part of AP’s initiative to counter misinformation dissemination, in collaboration with external entities to embed factual context in misleading content online.