A tragic incident occurred in South Carolina when two teenagers allegedly attacked and drowned 13-year-old Daryl Martinez Lowry. The boy had been temporarily placed in the home of McCormick County Council Chairman Bernie Hamby, awaiting another foster placement.
Reports indicate that 17-year-old Landen Austin Moore and a 16-year-old boy were also foster children at Hamby’s residence. They were accused of assaulting Lowry on July 20. The suspects reportedly inflicted knife wounds on him before holding him underwater until he died.
Daryl Martinez Lowry was attacked at a private boat dock on Beauregard Drive in Modoc, South Carolina.– McCormick County Sheriff’s Office
The McCormick County Sheriff’s Office posted an arrest warrant online stating that the assault and subsequent drowning occurred at a boat dock on Clarks Hill Lake. Evidence and witness statements contributed to these allegations.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) charged Moore with murder after the sheriff’s office requested their involvement. He was detained at the McCormick County Detention Center, while the 16-year-old involved was sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice. It remains unclear if authorities have charged the younger teen.
Chairman Hamby was reportedly asleep at home during the incident and has not been implicated in any wrongdoing. He has been a strong advocate for the foster care system for years.
Earlier, Lowry had been the focus of a missing child case in Chester, South Carolina. Police successfully located him on June 12, shortly after asking for the public’s help. Authorities have not connected this disappearance to his death.
Family members launched a GoFundMe campaign to honor Daryl, describing him as a joyful and charismatic child. His aunt expressed her commitment to seeking justice for her nephew.
McCormick County Sheriff Chad Cox characterized the event as a significant tragedy for the community. He appreciated the collaboration of various organizations, including SLED and local emergency services, in the investigation.
We are extremely grateful that we live/work in a community where violent crime is not a regular occurrence.– Sheriff Chad Cox
SLED continues to investigate the case, with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office overseeing the prosecution.