Marion Bowman Jr. was born on June 6, 1980, in Branchville, South Carolina, and grew up in a troubled household marked by poverty, family dysfunction, and widespread alcoholism. His upbringing was described during trial proceedings as chaotic, with his mother’s side of the family having a long history of severe alcohol abuse. By age ten, Bowman had already begun drinking, and by age fourteen, he was reportedly involved in minor drug trafficking within his local community. He struggled academically and socially, eventually becoming entangled in criminal activity during his teenage years.

In the late 1990s, Bowman’s life became increasingly unstable. He was convicted on two counts of third-degree burglary and petty larceny, for which he served a two-year prison sentence and an additional thirty days in a boot camp rehabilitation program. Though these sentences were relatively short, they represented the first of multiple encounters Bowman would have with the South Carolina justice system. By the time of his release, Bowman was in his early twenties, unemployed, and living intermittently with family and friends. His criminal record, substance abuse history, and volatile temperament made it difficult for him to rebuild a stable life.

Those who knew Bowman in Branchville described him as temperamental and often intoxicated, but not outwardly violent toward strangers. He maintained several acquaintances from high school, including Kandee Louise Martin, a 21-year-old woman from Dorchester County. By early 2001, Bowman had reestablished contact with Martin, though the exact nature of their relationship remains unclear. According to Bowman’s later statement, they had both a social and sexual connection, complicated by a financial dispute. Witnesses later testified that Bowman had expressed resentment toward Martin over money she allegedly owed him.

By February 2001, Bowman’s life had again deteriorated into heavy drinking, financial hardship, and resentment toward those he believed had taken advantage of him. These tensions came to a head on February 16, when he encountered Martin and her friends in town.

On February 17, 2001, the burnt body of Kandee Louise Martin was discovered in the trunk of her car in Dorchester County, South Carolina. This gruesome finding followed an encounter between Kandee and Marion Bowman Jr. the day before, where he asked her to return some borrowed money. After she refused to comply immediately, Bowman allegedly threatened her, saying she would be dead by dark.

That evening, Martin drove to a house where Bowman and his friends were drinking. Bowman and his cousin, James Tywan Gadson, entered her car and drove to a secluded location suggested by Bowman. According to Gadson, as they exited the vehicle, Bowman expressed a desire to kill Martin. Out of sight, Bowman pulled out a gun and fired three shots at Martin, who reportedly approached him and begged for her life because she had a child.

Despite her pleas, Bowman disregarded her and shot her twice. After killing Martin, he dragged her body into the woods and threatened Gadson to keep the incident secret. Bowman then drove Martin’s car back to town, later trying to sell it unsuccessfully. He enlisted another friend, Travis Felder, to return to the murder site. After parking, he retrieved Martin’s body from the woods, placed it in the trunk, and set the car on fire, admitting to Felder that he had killed her.

In June 2001, Bowman was indicted for murder and third-degree arson. His trial commenced in May 2002. The jury found him guilty on both charges after three hours of deliberation. The prosecution sought the death penalty, highlighting the severity of the crime. The jury unanimously recommended death, and Bowman was sentenced accordingly, receiving an additional ten years for arson.

Bowman faced multiple appeals throughout his time on death row, but each one was dismissed by various courts over the years. His death warrant was signed in January 2025, and he chose to be executed by lethal injection. On January 31, 2025, Bowman was executed. He maintained his innocence until the end. Before his execution, he enjoyed a last meal of seafood and sweets, and he was pronounced dead at 6:27 PM.