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A South Carolina man scheduled to be the first US execution of 2025 claims he’s innocent of murder. Marion Bowman Jr. admits to selling drugs to the victim, 21-year-old Kandee Martin, but denies killing her. Martin’s family believes he is lying and eagerly await his execution.
Bowman is set to die by lethal injection on Friday for Martin’s February 16, 2001, death. Police discovered Martin’s body in the trunk of her burned car. She had been shot twice.
In a statement, Bowman expressed sorrow for Martin’s family but maintained his innocence. He said he doesn’t want to be executed for a crime he didn’t commit.
Martin’s family expressed hope for closure after the execution. Her sister-in-law, Lisa Martin, emphasized the family’s pain and the lost opportunities due to Kandee’s murder.
Bowman was convicted of Martin’s murder. Prosecutors argued Martin owed him money for drugs. Witnesses testified they heard Bowman threaten Martin’s life.
Bowman claims he sold Martin drugs the day she died, but later she was buying on credit. He alleges he saw her drive away with his cousin, also a drug dealer.
This cousin became a key witness in the trial, accepting a plea deal. Bowman contends the jury never heard that his cousin confessed to the murder to a cellmate.
Kandee Martin grew up in Branchville, South Carolina. She dreamed of leaving her small town for a career in Charleston. She became a young mother, cherishing her son.
Bowman’s execution is scheduled for 6 p.m. on January 31 at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina. He will be executed by lethal injection.
Bowman’s attorneys have questioned the state’s secrecy surrounding the lethal injection drug. They also raised concerns about its purity and quality.
The state argued Bowman chose lethal injection over the firing squad or electric chair. His attorney clarified he chose lethal injection because he considers the other methods barbaric.
Bowman grew up in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. He became involved in the drug trade to support his family.
While in prison, he became a father and grandfather. He has also turned to writing poetry and found faith.