Family of 13-year-old Daryl Lowry launches independent investigation into death in state custody
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Attorneys say the inquiry will examine how Lowry was placed in the foster home and who was responsible for supervising him before his death.
The family of Daryl Lowry has brought in legal counsel and opened an independent inquiry into how the 13-year-old came to die at a boat dock while in the custody of the state of South Carolina.
WRDW reported that McCormick County deputies were called to a dock at Modoc Shores around 7 a.m. Monday and recovered Lowry’s body. Attorney Tyler Bailey, now representing the family, emphasized two facts he considers foundational to everything that follows: the boy was 13, and he was a ward of the state, having only recently been placed in the foster home where he was living.
Bailey told the outlet his firm’s investigation will run parallel to, not against, the criminal case being handled by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and prosecuted by the state Attorney General’s Office. “We support that work and will not interfere with it,” he said, noting his questions are aimed elsewhere.
Those questions center on the placement itself. As reported by WRDW, the family wants to know how the decision to send Lowry to that home was made, what the state knew about the household and the other children in it, and critically, who was responsible for supervising him overnight and where that person was when he died.
“When the state removes a child from his family and takes him into its care, it accepts a duty to keep that child alive,” Bailey said. “We intend to find out whether that duty was met.”
The legal push comes as a 17-year-old faces a murder charge in the case. WRDW reported that bond was denied for Landen Moore of Modoc, with a sessions judge to set bond later.
Arrest warrants describe a physical altercation at the dock involving Moore, a 16 year old and Lowry, during which Lowry sustained knife lacerations. The warrants allege Moore caused his death by holding him underwater. The 16 year old, whose name has not been released, was taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
McCormick County Sheriff Chad Cox asked SLED to assume control of the investigation, citing an unexplained conflict of interest involving the parties. WRDW noted that records requests submitted to multiple county agencies were redirected to SLED, which said only that the case remains active.
The family’s GoFundMe page, created by Lowry’s aunt, shared this message:
“Hello my name is Zyon Simpson, I am the aunt of Daryl Martinez Lowry (13) who was recently murdered while in a temporary foster home. He was an amazing child full of life, love, and charisma. He loved his parents, family, and friends, and he always wore a smile. Unfortunately because of his untimely and unexpected passing we, his family are in need of financial support. Whatever you can donate will be greatly appreciated, and if you are financially unable we accept your love and prayers. Thank you all for everything.”