Mark Fuhrman, Detective in O.J. Simpson Case, Dies at 72
Mark Fuhrman, the former Los Angeles Police Department detective whose testimony and subsequent perjury conviction became a flashpoint in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, died on May 12, 2025. He was 72.
Kootenai County (Idaho) chief deputy coroner Lynn Acebedo confirmed the death. The cause of death was not released.
Investigation and Trial Testimony
Fuhrman was among the first two detectives assigned to investigate the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
In the course of his investigation, he reported finding a bloody glove at O.J. Simpson's residence. During the subsequent trial, Fuhrman testified that he had not used anti-Black racial slurs in the preceding ten years. A recording later surfaced that showed he had used such language repeatedly.
Following O.J. Simpson's acquittal in 1995, Fuhrman retired from the LAPD. In 1996, he was charged with perjury and pleaded no contest. He moved to Idaho, where his family operated a farm.
Later Career and Reactions
After leaving law enforcement, Fuhrman authored a book about the case and worked as a commentator.
Alan Dershowitz, a member of the Simpson defense team, stated that Fuhrman was a "much better detective than he was a witness" and that his actions "helped us win the O.J. case."
Kato Kaelin, a witness during the trial, wrote on the social media platform X that he acknowledged Fuhrman's death and expressed hope for peace for his loved ones.
Personal Background
According to reports, Fuhrman's father left the family when he was seven years old.
He served in the United States Marine Corps before joining the Los Angeles Police Department.