South Carolina executed Marion Bowman Jr. on Friday through lethal injection, marking the first U.S. execution of the year. Bowman was declared dead at 6:27 p.m. He had been on Death Row for the 2001 murder of 21-year-old Kandee Martin, a young mother killed just before her son’s second birthday. Authorities discovered Martin’s body, riddled with bullets, in the trunk of her burning car.
Bowman admitted to selling crack cocaine to Martin but maintained his innocence in her death. He described her as a longtime friend and occasional sexual partner. In his final words, Bowman insisted he did not kill Martin and expressed sorrow for her grieving family. “I did not kill Kandee Martin. I’m innocent of the crimes I’m here to die for,” he said through his legal team. He acknowledged the family’s pain, saying, “If my death helps them find peace, then it has served a purpose.”
Martin’s family expressed relief ahead of the execution, hoping for closure. “He had 24 years to get his affairs in order,” a family member said. “We didn’t get that chance. Kandee is in a coffin in the ground.”
Bowman’s Final Words and Reflections on Death Row
Bowman used his last words to highlight what he viewed as society’s misconceptions about Death Row inmates. He criticized the labels imposed by the state, saying prisoners were seen as “the worst of the worst.” He shared that many inmates had changed during their years of confinement, becoming different from the people they were when they committed their crimes.
“If people saw us day to day, they’d have a different view of the death penalty,” Bowman said. He described his fellow inmates as kind and caring individuals seeking forgiveness. “We are not the monsters society thinks we are,” he added. Bowman concluded by expressing his belief that their voices had been silenced by the state’s portrayal of them.
His Last Meal
Bowman’s final meal consisted of fried shrimp, fish, oysters, chicken wings, chicken tenders, onion rings, banana pudding, and German chocolate cake. He drank pineapple and cranberry juice.
The Crime and Conviction
A jury convicted Bowman of Martin’s murder, with prosecutors arguing that she owed him money for drugs. Several witnesses testified they heard Bowman threatening to kill her. Police found Martin’s body on February 17, 2001, on a dark country road. She had been shot in the chest and head before being placed in the trunk of her burning car.
On the day of the murder, Bowman, then 20, admitted to selling drugs to Martin multiple times. Later, he said she was “buying on credit” and that they had sex before she left in her car with his cousin. Bowman claimed his cousin, who also dealt drugs, was the last person seen with Martin.
During Bowman’s trial, his cousin served as the key witness in exchange for a reduced sentence. Bowman later argued that his cousin had confessed to the murder to a fellow inmate. He claimed prosecutors ignored evidence that implicated both his cousin and another man.
“I’ve made mistakes in life,” Bowman said in a written statement. “I regret selling drugs to Kandee because her addiction likely led to her death. But I did not kill her.”
Kandee Martin’s Life and Aspirations
Kandee Martin grew up in Branchville, South Carolina, a small rural town halfway between Charleston and Columbia. With limited job opportunities in the area, she often spoke of moving to Charleston and starting a career.
“She was a small-town girl with big dreams,” her family said. Before she could leave Branchville, Martin became pregnant with a son. Motherhood changed her life in positive ways. “She loved being a mom. It was everything to her,” her family said. Her son, who was just shy of two years old when she died, was a source of joy and laughter.
Execution Details and Controversies
Bowman was executed by a lethal injection of pentobarbital. His legal team raised concerns about the drug, citing a lack of transparency about its quality, storage, and expiration date. They pointed to a prior execution where a second dose was needed, raising questions about the drug’s effectiveness.
Bowman had the option to choose between a firing squad, electric chair, or lethal injection. He selected lethal injection, calling the other methods “barbaric and unconstitutional,” according to his lawyer Lindsey Vann.
Bowman’s Background and Time in Prison
Bowman grew up in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, in a poor, rural community. His father was absent, and his mother fell ill when he was a teenager. As the oldest child, Bowman took on family responsibilities. “We were poor, but we managed,” he wrote. Without finishing high school, Bowman turned to manual labor but struggled to make ends meet.
Eventually, he began selling crack cocaine to support his mother and younger siblings, later expanding his support to his wife and stepchildren. His wife gave birth to their daughter while he was in prison. Now a grandfather, Bowman maintained a close relationship with his children and step-grandchildren.
In prison, Bowman matured and developed a strong faith in God. He began writing poetry, including a new poem released after his death titled “Last Breath or Sigh.” In it, he reflected on love, faith, and finding peace in the afterlife. His final words to his family, delivered through his legal team, were of love, gratitude, and a hope for reconciliation.
