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By Jenna Sundel
News Reporter
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South Carolina death row inmate Marion Bowman is scheduled to be killed by lethal injection on Friday in the first execution of the year in the U.S.
Why It Matters
The death penalty is a legal form of punishment in 27 states.
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A poll taken by Gallup in October of last year found that 53 percent of Americans favor the death penalty, but the number varies across generations. Less than half of millennial and Gen Z adults support the punishment.
What To Know
Friday's execution will be the first in the state following a pause over the Christmas holiday.
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Who is Marion Bowman?
Bowman, now 44, was convicted of murder and third-degree arson in 2002. He was accused of fatally shooting Kandee Martin, who he had met in high school.
When Bowman was 20, he encountered 21-year-old Martin and a group of her friends. Bowman's sister said he asked Martin to pay back a debt that was owed, and when Martin asked him to wait until she was finished with a conversation, he said, "that b**** be dead by dark."
What Happened to Kandee Martin?
Martin drove her car to meet up with Bowman later that evening. He and his cousin James Tywan Gadson got into the car and went to a remote area Bowman had located.
After they got out of the car, Bowman took out a gun and fired three shots, despite Martin allegedly asking him to spare her life since she had a child.
Martin's body was left in the woods at first, but Bowman later returned and put her body in the trunk of her car, which he then set on fire.
The next day, firefighters responded to a report of a burning car. After putting out the fire, they found Martin's remains. Bowman was arrested that same day after his DNA was found on her body.
Bowman continues to claim innocence and has attempted to appeal his conviction multiple times.
In a request to stay the execution, Bowman's current attorneys argued that he did not have a fair trial because his original legal team had a bias against Black people.
Bowman's legal team has also raised questions about the drug used for lethal injection.
An anesthesiologist who reviewed the autopsy records of Richard Moore, the last inmate executed in the state, said that fluid found in the lungs make it appear that Moore "consciously experienced feelings of drowning and suffocation during the 23 minutes that it took to bring about his death."
Another anesthesiologist said fluid is often found in the lungs following the administration of a lethal injection.
The state argued that Bowman had the opportunity to choose death by firing squad or electric chair, and he opted for lethal injection.
How Many People Are on Death Row?
As of January 1, there were 2,092 death row inmates in the U.S. There are 30 in the state of South Carolina.
California has the most inmates on death row at 601. California Governor Gavin Newsom placed a hold on executions in 2019.
What People Are Saying
The state, in court filings: "If Bowman's concerns about lethal injection were genuine, he could have elected another method."
Bowman, in a statement released by the Western District of North Carolina Office of the Federal Public Defender: "I am so sorry for Kandee and her family, but I did not do it. Her family has suffered a loss that [cannot] be undone. They have been through trials, and appeals, but they have never heard the truth from me. I know this won't bring them satisfaction, but this is my truth."
What Happens Next
Bowman's execution is expected to take place at the Broad River Correctional Facility in Columbia. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has the authority to stay an execution, but he has not done so since executions were reinstated in 2024.
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