Family of 13-Year-Old Daryl Lowry Hires Lawyers, Launches Independent Probe After Death In State Custody

The family of 13-year-old Daryl Lowry has retained private attorneys and opened an independent investigation into how he came to be found dead at a boat dock while in the custody of the state of South Carolina.

Local outlet WRDW reported that McCormick County deputies responded to a dock at Modoc Shores at about 7 a.m. on Monday and recovered Lowry’s body. Attorney Tyler Bailey, who now represents the family, emphasized two central facts: Lowry was 13, and he was a ward of the state, having been recently placed in the foster home where he was living.

Bailey said his firm’s inquiry will run in parallel with the criminal investigation led by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and prosecuted by the state Attorney General’s Office. "We support that work and will not interfere with it," he said, adding that his team’s questions are aimed at the placement decision and supervision, not the criminal prosecution.

Family Seeks Answers About Placement And Supervision

The family wants to know how officials decided to place Lowry in that particular foster home, what background information state agencies had about the household and other children living there, 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."

Criminal Case Underway

The civil inquiry was announced as criminal charges moved forward: a 17-year-old, identified by WRDW as Landen Moore of Modoc, has been charged with murder and was denied bond; a sessions judge will set bond at a later date. Arrest warrants describe a physical altercation at the dock involving Moore, a 16-year-old and Lowry, during which Lowry reportedly suffered knife lacerations. The warrants allege Moore caused Lowry’s death by holding him underwater. The 16-year-old, whose name has not been released because of his age, was taken into custody by the Department of Juvenile Justice.

McCormick County Sheriff Chad Cox requested that SLED assume control of the criminal investigation, citing an unexplained conflict of interest among the parties involved. WRDW reported that records requests submitted to multiple county agencies were redirected to SLED, which said only that the case remains active.

From the family’s GoFundMe message, created by Lowry’s aunt, Zyon Simpson:

"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."

The family’s independent investigation is intended to answer questions about the state's decision-making and oversight in Lowry’s placement and care. The civil team says it will cooperate with prosecutors and SLED but will focus specifically on whether state agencies met their duty of care to a child in their custody.