George Floyd’s death was due cardiopulmonary arrest – or the stopping of his heart – according to the final autopsy results released by the Hennepin County medical examiner.
The report from Dr. Andrew Baker says Floyd’s neck was compressed when former officer Derek Chauvin’s knee was on it for more than eight minutes, but does not conclude that it was the direct cause of his death.
The new report does indicate that Floyd had a number of bruises and cuts on his head, face, mouth, shoulders, arms and legs. But it found no evidence that any of those injuries directly would have killed him.
An independent autopsy commissioned by the Floyd family disagreed with the conclusion of the county, saying that Floyd died of “asphyxiation from sustained pressure.”
The autopsy says Floyd had heart disease and a history of high blood pressure. A preliminary toxicology report found moderate levels of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The family’s independent autopsy did not include a toxicology report.
The county autopsy also indicates that Floyd had recently tested positive for coronavirus, although there is no indication that it was a factor in his death.