COLUMBIA, S.C. — Marion Bowman Jr., a 44-year-old inmate who has spent over half his life on death row in South Carolina, has opted for lethal injection as his method of execution, bypassing the electric chair and firing squad options. This choice comes as Bowman is set to be executed at 6 p.m. on January 31 at the Broad River Correctional Institution, marking him as the third inmate to face execution since the state resumed this practice after a 13-year hiatus last year. The other two inmates also selected lethal injection, a decision spurred by the state’s concerns over acquiring the necessary drugs for this procedure.
The state Supreme Court has greenlit executions to occur every five weeks, coinciding with the rejection of regular appeals for three other inmates. Supporters of Bowman, including his attorney Lindsey Vann, emphasize his long struggle to demonstrate his innocence, highlighting the racial disparities in capital punishment, particularly against young men of color. “We hope South Carolina does not execute another innocent man,” Vann stated.
The law that permits secrecy surrounding the execution process has enabled the state to procure pentobarbital, the drug used in lethal injections, without disclosing the supplier’s identity. Recently, the federal government announced it would withdraw its protocol concerning pentobarbital following a review that raised issues about the possibility of “unnecessary pain and suffering.” State officials, who assert that South Carolina’s procedures align with federal standards, did not provide comments about this recent decision. Such protocols could shift again with the impending inauguration of Donald Trump.
Bowman’s legal team is seeking a federal mandate requiring prison authorities to disclose more details about the pentobarbital used for executions. Their concern stems from the handling of Richard Moore’s execution, where reports suggested he received two doses of pentobarbital, indicating potential procedural flaws that could have resulted in prolonged suffering. An anesthesiologist, Dr. David B. Waisel, critiqued the execution process, expressing apprehensions that the state’s protocols might not adequately consider Bowman’s considerable weight of 389 pounds (176 kilograms), which could complicate securing an IV for the procedure.
Bowman was sentenced for the murder of Kandee Martin, a 21-year-old whose charred remains were discovered in her car trunk in Dorchester County back in 2001. Much of the testimony against him originated from acquaintances who were incentivized by plea deals. Bowman has consistently maintained his innocence. During his trial, he refrained from testifying but later provided a statement implying that Martin had entrusted him with her watch as collateral for drug debts.
The prosecution had proposed a plea deal for life incarceration, which Bowman rejected due to his insistence on innocence. One of his attorneys urged him to reconsider, suggesting that his race—being Black—could impact jury perceptions negatively in a case involving a white victim. Bowman recounted, “The attorney came to the jail and said, ‘son, you need to plead guilty. You are charged with killing a white girl and you and your family are Black.'”
On Thursday, the South Carolina Supreme Court dismissed an appeal from Bowman’s current legal representatives aimed at delaying the execution to reassess new evidence related to inadequate legal representation at the trial. The court deemed the arguments lacking merit, asserting that they were based on misinterpreted statements. Bowman’s final opportunity to avoid execution could potentially involve an appeal for clemency to Governor Henry McMaster, who has consistently declined to grant clemency to executing inmates, including two others executed in 2024.
Bowman has shown commendable behavior throughout his two decades on death row, according to several witnesses, including nurses who indicated he has been a supportive figure to fellow inmates struggling with mental health issues. He has served as a mediator between death row inmates and prison staff. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty nearly 50 years ago, South Carolina has executed 45 inmates, with no governor offering restoration of life to any inmate post-sentencing. The governor’s announcement regarding Bowman’s case will occur just minutes before the scheduled execution.
Bowman expressed remorse for his involvement in Martin’s struggles with addiction, stating, “I regret the role I had in dealing to Kandee and know that her addiction probably led to her death. But I did not do this. I am so sorry for Kandee and her family, but I did not do it.”
