O.J. Simpson Trial Detective Mark Fuhrman Dead at 74, Cause of Death Revealed
\nCulture
\nCelebs
\nBy Samantha Whidden
\nMay 19, 2026 | 7:04 a.m. CDT
\no-j-simpson-trial-detective-mark-fuhrman-dead-at-74-cause-of-death-revealed
\nPhoto by KIM KULISH\/POOL\/AFP via Getty Images
\nMark Fuhrman, who was the trial detective in the O.J. Simpson trial, has passed away. He was 74 years old.<\/p>\n
According to TMZ, the former LAPD detective died from an aggressive form of throat cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2025. He was notably hospitalized for about a week before his passing. Per the late law enforcement officer\u2019s wishes, there will not be a funeral.<\/p>\n
He was living in Idaho at the time of his passing. The Kootenai County Coroner\u2019s Office confirmed that he died on May 12.<\/p>\n
Fuhrman was known as the detective who discovered the bloody glove at the scene of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman\u2019s murder. He was then infamously known for using the n-word during the investigation. Although he initially denied using the racial slur, Simpson\u2019s defense team played a tape during the trial in which Fuhrman was heard saying the word.<\/p>\n
Simpson\u2019s legal team then questioned Fuhrman\u2019s credibility by submitting several old tapes of him using racist language, seemingly hinting that his testimony was racially motivated.<\/p>\n
Fuhrman was convicted of felony perjury for lying about the racial slur usage in 1996. He is considered the only person to be convicted of any crime related to the murders of Brown Simpson and Goldman. He pleaded no contest.<\/p>\n
Fuhrman apologized publicly for using the racial slurs. He also insisted he never tried to frame Simpson, nor did he plant the bloody glove at the scene.<\/p>\n
Following the O.J. Simpson trial, Fuhrman retired from the LAPD. He wrote several true crime books and became a TV\/radio personality. He also worked as a crime expert for Fox News.<\/p>\n
In 2024, Fuhrman was barred from returning to police work in California due to his felony conviction. Simpson died that same year.<\/p>\n
Fuhrman is survived by his son and daughter.<\/p>\n
O.J. Simpson\u2019s Estate Executor Said the Late NFL Star Was \u201cVery Thankful\u201d for Fuhrman\u2019s \u201cFlawed\u201d Testimony
\nWhile speaking to TMZ, Malcolm LaVergne, Simpson\u2019s longtime lawyer and the executor of his estate, said the late NFL star was \u201cvery thankful\u201d for Fuhrman.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrivately, OJ was very thankful for Mark Fuhrman because Mark Fuhrman blew up the case for prosecutors,\u201d LaVergne explained.<\/p>\n
The attorney also stated that Simpson saw Furhman as his \u201cget out of jail free card.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lavergne did note that the former athlete saw Fuhrman as a racist after he repeatedly used the racial slur. However, he pointed out that Simpson would have treated Fuhrman\u2019s passing with respect because Simpson was a \u201cclass act.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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