South Carolina executed Marion Bowman Jr. by lethal injection on Friday, marking the first U.S. execution this year. He was pronounced dead at 6:27 p.m. after being on Death Row for murdering 21-year-old Kandee Martin in 2001. Martin, a young mother, died five days before her son’s second birthday. Police found her bullet-ridden body in the trunk of her burning car.

Bowman described Martin as a longtime friend and occasional sexual partner. He admitted to selling her crack cocaine but consistently denied killing her. His final words, shared through his legal team, insisted on his innocence: “I did not kill Kandee Martin. I’m innocent of the crimes I’m here to die for.” He expressed hope that his death would bring Martin’s family some peace.

Martin’s family had been counting down to the execution, hoping it would provide closure. “He’s had 24 years to make peace, but we never got that chance,” said one family member.

Bowman’s Reflections Before Execution

Bowman used his last words to highlight issues with the death penalty and society’s view of inmates. He said Death Row inmates are “labeled as the worst of the worst” but often grow and change over time. “If the world could see our day-to-day lives, they’d see a different side of us,” he said. He described his fellow inmates as kind, loving, and caring, contrasting this with the monstrous image painted by the State.

Bowman’s final meal included fried shrimp, fish, oysters, chicken wings, chicken tenders, onion rings, banana pudding, German chocolate cake, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice.

Crime, Conviction, and Defense Claims

A jury convicted Bowman of murdering Martin, who owed him money for drugs, according to prosecutors. Witnesses testified they heard him threaten to kill her. On February 17, 2001, police found Martin’s body on a rural road, shot twice, and left in her burning car.

Bowman, 20 at the time, admitted selling Martin drugs on the day of her murder. He claimed they had sex, after which she drove off with his cousin. This cousin, a fellow dealer, later testified against Bowman as part of a plea deal for a reduced sentence.

Bowman contended that prosecutors ignored key evidence, including his cousin’s alleged jailhouse confession to the murder. He maintained that his role in selling drugs contributed to Martin’s death but insisted he was not the killer.

Kandee Martin’s Life and Legacy

Kandee Martin, the daughter of a rebar contractor and a stay-at-home mom, grew up in Branchville, South Carolina. The small town offered limited job prospects, and Martin dreamed of moving to Charleston for a better future.

Before she could leave Branchville, she became pregnant with a baby boy. Her family recalls how she embraced motherhood, considering it a blessing. “She went from a carefree girl to a devoted mom,” a family member said, recalling the joy Kandee and her son shared.

Lethal Injection and Legal Disputes

Bowman died via a lethal injection of pentobarbital, but his attorneys criticized the secrecy surrounding the drug’s storage and quality. They pointed to concerns from a prior execution where the drug required a second dose. South Carolina argued Bowman could have chosen the electric chair or a firing squad but opted for lethal injection. His attorney, Lindsey Vann, said he rejected the other methods as “barbaric and unconstitutional.”

Bowman’s Background and Prison Life

Bowman grew up in rural Orangeburg County, South Carolina. His father was absent, and his mother fell ill during his teenage years, leaving him to support the family. He dropped out of high school and took manual labor jobs, but poverty pushed him into drug dealing. Initially, he sold crack to support his mother and sister, later expanding his support to his wife and stepchildren.

While in prison, Bowman became a grandfather and maintained close relationships with his family. He developed a strong faith, wrote poems, and reflected on his life. His poem “Last Breath or Sigh” was released posthumously, with lines such as, “Let there be no mistaking—I’ve felt love with every breath I’ve taken.”