South Carolina executed Marion Bowman Jr. by lethal injection on Friday, marking the first U.S. execution this year.
Bowman’s Conviction and Final Statements
Marion Bowman was executed at 6:27 p.m. for the 2001 murder of 21-year-old Kandee Martin. Martin, a young mother, was killed five days before her son’s second birthday. Police found her bullet-ridden body inside the trunk of her burning car.
Bowman described Martin as a close friend and occasional sexual partner. He admitted to selling her crack cocaine but consistently maintained his innocence regarding her murder.
In his final words, Bowman stated, “I did not kill Kandee Martin. I’m innocent of the crimes I’m here to die for.” Despite his plea, he acknowledged the pain Martin’s family endured.
“If my death helps them focus on happier memories and find peace, it will serve a purpose,” Bowman said.
Martin’s family expressed relief before the execution, counting down the minutes for closure. “He had 24 years to make peace. We never got that chance. Kandee is buried in the ground,” her family said.
Critique of the Death Penalty
Bowman’s last words also criticized how society views people on Death Row. He noted that inmates are labeled as “the worst of the worst.”
“None of the people I’ve met here are the same as when they committed their crimes,” he explained. “If people saw us daily, they’d rethink the death penalty. The world clings to monstrous images created by the State while silencing our real voices.”
He ended by saying, “We’re not who the State says we are. We’re kind, caring, and loving. It’s a shame the world doesn’t see that.”
Last Meal and Execution Method
For his final meal, Bowman had fried shrimp, fish, oysters, chicken wings, tenders, onion rings, banana pudding, and German chocolate cake. He drank pineapple and cranberry juice.
Bowman died by a lethal injection of pentobarbital. His legal team raised concerns about the drug’s quality and secrecy surrounding its details. They questioned the drug’s purity after another inmate received a second dose during a recent execution.
The state argued Bowman could have chosen between lethal injection, a firing squad, or the electric chair. Bowman selected lethal injection, calling the other methods “barbaric and unconstitutional.”
Events Leading to Conviction
Bowman was convicted of killing Martin over an unpaid drug debt. Witnesses testified that he had threatened her life. On February 17, 2001, police discovered Martin’s body, shot in the chest and head, stuffed inside her burning car.
Bowman admitted to selling her drugs multiple times that day and having sex with her. He claimed he last saw her driving off with his cousin, who later testified against him in exchange for a reduced sentence. Bowman argued that evidence implicating his cousin and another man was ignored.
“I regret my role in Kandee’s addiction and how it led to her death, but I didn’t kill her,” Bowman insisted.
Who Was Kandee Martin?
Kandee grew up in Branchville, a small South Carolina town with few job opportunities. Her high school graduating class had just 21 students. She dreamed of leaving her small town and starting a career in Charleston.
Before she could leave, she became pregnant with a son. Despite the surprise, becoming a mother was a joy for her. “She embraced being a mom and loved her son deeply,” her family recalled.
Bowman’s Life and Transformation
Bowman grew up in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. His father was absent, and his mother fell ill during his teen years, leaving him to support the family. “We were poor, but we managed,” he once wrote. Unable to finish high school, Bowman worked manual jobs but struggled to make ends meet. He turned to selling crack cocaine to support his mother, sister, wife, and stepchildren.
While in prison, Bowman’s wife gave birth to their daughter. Bowman is now a grandfather, with three step-grandchildren he considers his own. He remained close to his family despite his imprisonment.
During his time behind bars, Bowman matured and deepened his faith. He became a writer and poet, penning works like “While I Breathe I Hope” and “Last Breath or Sigh,” released posthumously. His final poem included the lines: “I’ve felt love with every breath I’ve taken. Now I rest in God’s embrace.”