New Details Emerge in De-ath of Daryl Lowry: Family Questions Circumstances Surrounding Teen’s Final Days
“Daryl and his family deserved so much better than what happened on that dock,” Bailey said. “We intend to get his family the answers they deserve.”
Teen suspect denied bond
The legal move by the family comes as a 17-year-old suspect faces a murder charge in Daryl’s death.
The McCormick County Magistrate’s Office has denied bond for Landen Moore, 17, of Modoc, who is charged with murder in the drowning death of Lowry at a boat dock on Strom Thurmond Lake.
Landen Austin Moore(McCormick County Sheriff’s Office)
Moore was booked into the McCormick County Detention Center. A sessions judge will set his bond at a later date.
What investigators say happened
According to arrest warrants, a physical altercation occurred at the boat dock involving Moore, a 16-year-old and Lowry. Lowry suffered knife lacerations during the altercation.
The warrants state Moore, “with malice aforethought,” caused Lowry’s death by holding him underwater.
A 16-year-old also charged in connection with the incident was transported to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, according to SLED. The juvenile’s name has not been released.
SLED takes over case
After a preliminary investigation, McCormick County Sheriff Chad Cox requested that SLED take the lead, citing “a conflict of interest pertaining to the parties involved.” The sheriff did not explain the nature of that conflict.
In a statement posted to its Facebook page, the McCormick County Sheriff’s Office expressed condolences to Lowry’s family.
“We want to express our deepest condolences to the friends and family of the young man who had his life taken in such a horrendous manner,” the statement said.
The sheriff’s office also thanked SLED, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, McCormick County Emergency Services, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies for their roles in the investigation.
Records requests go unanswered
Reporters submitted records requests to McCormick County Social Services, the Sheriff’s Office, the Coroner and County Emergency Services. Those who responded directed all questions and records requests to SLED.
SLED referred us to its brief news release, saying the investigation is active and ongoing. The case will be prosecuted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, according to SLED.
