A Minnesota medical examiner, Dr. Michael McGee, is facing scrutiny after prosecutors suggested that he may have mishandled up to seven murder cases by providing false or misleading reports that led to convictions. The cases under review span from 1985 to 2019. Following a federal judge’s criticism of McGee’s work as unreliable and inaccurate, a team of lawyers and medical experts is now tasked with evaluating the impact of McGee’s testimony on these cases. This review stems from a recent decision to overturn the death sentence of a man involved in a high-profile kidnapping and murder case.
Ramsey County Attorney John Choi highlighted the importance of ensuring the legitimacy and integrity of convictions, emphasizing the need for trust in the judicial system. The review aims to determine if McGee’s involvement in these cases warrants the overturning or reduction of convictions and sentences. The cases in question, which remain undisclosed out of respect for the victims’ families, involve individuals convicted of murder based on McGee’s cause of death reports that are now being questioned.
The legal team plans to enlist three independent medical examiners to reassess McGee’s work in the seven identified cases. This examination follows years of scrutiny surrounding McGee’s testimony, especially in the murder trial of Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., convicted in the killing of Dru Sjodin. The judge in Rodriguez’s trial criticized McGee for offering unsupported opinions and making inconsistencies in his testimony, particularly regarding sexual assault evidence.
The case of Thomas Rhodes, who spent nearly 25 years in prison before his murder conviction was vacated, further underscores the potential implications of McGee’s questionable work. Rhodes was initially convicted based on McGee’s testimony in connection to his wife’s death. A review by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office’s Conviction Review Unit revealed discrepancies, ultimately leading to Rhodes pleading guilty to manslaughter. Organizations such as The Great North Innocence Project have expressed concerns over the widespread impact of McGee’s compromised testimony on wrongful convictions, emphasizing the need to address the full extent of the issue.
