South Carolina Executes Marion Bowman Jr. Despite Innocence Claims

Marion Bowman Jr., a South Carolina death row inmate, was executed by lethal injection on Friday for the 2001 murder of Kandee Martin, despite maintaining his innocence for over two decades. In his final letter, Bowman expressed regret for Martin's death but insisted, "I did not do it," claiming that his trial was marred by racial bias and inadequate legal representation. The prosecution presented testimonies from witnesses, including Bowman's cousin, who allegedly received leniency in exchange for his testimony. Martin's family remains unconvinced of Bowman's claims and is relieved by the execution. Bowman's legal team argued that the execution drug, pentobarbital, raises concerns due to a lack of transparency surrounding its use. His execution marked the first in the U.S. for 2025 and was part of a renewed wave of executions in South Carolina after a lengthy hiatus.