Few stories in international politics capture the public’s attention like the tragic story of Otto Warmbier. The 22-year-old American college student was arrested in North Korea in 2016 and returned to the United States in a vegetative state, dying shortly thereafter.
But amid that tragedy, a strange and persistent rumor emerged: that Warmbier’s teeth had been altered or damaged during his time in North Korean custody.
The story goes that Warmbier’s parents, Cindy Warmbier and Fred Warmbier, claimed in a 2017 interview that their son’s teeth had been “reorganize” with pliers while in custody. However, a later report from the Hamilton County medical examiner’s office in Ohio, where Warmbier’s body was examined, found no evidence of broken bones or disfigured teeth.
So what is the truth behind this strange and disturbing rumor?
There was no evidence of physical trauma or dental damage, according to Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco, the Hamilton County coroner who performed the autopsy on Warmbier.We don’t know what happened to him and that’s the final conclusion.“, she said at a press conference.
The medical examiner’s report, released in September 2017, described Warmbier’s body as being in “very bad condition.”excellent condition” for someone who had been bedridden for more than a year. The report also noted that Warmbier’s brain injuries, which ultimately led to his death, were caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain, not physical trauma.
Despite the autopsy findings, rumors of Warmbier’s teeth being rearranged persisted, fueled by social media and conspiracy theorists. Some even pointed to a photo taken before Warmbier’s arrest, showing him smiling with a full set of teeth, as evidence that his teeth had been altered during his time in North Korea.
But like many things on the internet, it’s important to separate fact from fiction. The medical examiner’s report was clear: there was no evidence of dental damage or physical trauma on Warmbier’s body.
As for the photo of Warmbier smiling, it is worth noting that dental care is a common and routine procedure. It is entirely possible that Warmbier had some dental work done before his trip to North Korea, but there is no evidence that his teeth were rearranged or damaged during his detention.
