Two teenagers have been charged with murder after South Carolina investigators say a 13-year-old boy who had recently been placed in a foster home was fatally attacked and drowned in a nearby lake.
The victim, identified as Daryl Martinez Lowry, was found dead Monday in a lake near a residential boat dock in Modoc, South Carolina. Authorities allege the boy was attacked by 17-year-old Landon Austin Moore and another 16-year-old foster child who were living in the same home.
According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), both teenagers have been charged with murder and are currently in custody.
Investigators said Lowry’s body was discovered near a dock only hours after an alleged altercation involving the three boys.
An arrest warrant reviewed by Law&Crime alleges that Moore and the 16-year-old stabbed Lowry before dragging him into the nearby lake, where they held his head underwater until he drowned.
Court documents state the incident began as a physical altercation at the boat dock. During the confrontation, Lowry allegedly suffered knife-inflicted lacerations before the attack escalated into the fatal drowning.
Authorities have not released additional details about what led to the confrontation.
According to local news outlet The Augusta Press, Moore and the 16-year-old were both foster children living at the home of McCormick County Council Chairman Bernie Hamby. Lowry had reportedly been placed at the residence only recently as a temporary foster child while awaiting a permanent placement.
Investigators said Hamby was asleep inside the home during the early morning hours when the alleged attack occurred.
Authorities have emphasized that Hamby is not considered a suspect and is not accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the boy’s death.
Officials have not identified a motive for the alleged killing, and investigators have not explained what sparked the fight between the three boys.
Following the investigation, SLED charged Landon Austin Moore with murder. He is being held at the McCormick County Detention Center.
The 16-year-old suspect, whose identity has not been released because he is a juvenile, is being held by the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.
As of the latest available information, a court date for Moore had not been announced.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue gathering evidence related to the fatal attack. The charges against both teenagers are allegations, and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
