Featured Top Story Spotlight Man convicted of murdering McDowell County woman in 1993 claims innocence, requests new trial s_johnson Aug 5, 2026 Aug 5, 2026 Updated Sep 12, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The man convicted of bludgeoning a McDowell County woman to death in 1993 claims he is innocent and is fighting to get a new trial.kAm#@36CE s62? %2J=@C H2D 4@?G:4E65 3J 2 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ ;FCJ @7 7:CDE\568C66 >FC56C :? E96 562E9 @7 +:=A92 {@F:D6 {@H6CJ] %2J=@C H2D D6?E6?465 E@ =:76 :? AC:D@? H:E9@FE E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 A2C@=6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED]k^AmkAm%2J=@C :D 4FCC6?E=J D6CG:?8 9:D D6?E6?46 :? E96 t2DE6C? r@CC64E:@?2= x?DE:EFE:@? :? |2FCJ[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ 244@C5:?8 E@ }]r] s6A2CE>6?E @7 p5F=E r@CC64E:@? C64@C5D]k^Am kAm}]r] r6?E6C @? p4EF2= x??@46?46 tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C r9C:D |F>>2 3682? =@@<:?8 :?E@ %2J=@C’D 42D6 :? a_`d] %2J=@C :?:E:2==J 2AA=:65 E@ E96 }]r] r6?E6C @? p4EF2= x??@46?46 :? a_`_[ 3FE E92E :?G6DE:82E:@? H2D 4=@D65 :? a_`` 3642FD6 2?@E96C 286?4J H2D 2=D@ :?G6DE:82E:?8 %2J=@CVD 42D6]k^Am People are also reading… McDowell County Manager Ashley Wooten submits resignation Nebo woman charged with stealing $700 in cash from her employer Candidates for McDowell County Board of Commissioners answer questions Old Fort woman charged with possession, trafficking; 50 grams of meth seized Marion family turns a son’s cancer journey into a creamery with a cause McDowell commissioners appoint Will Kehler as interim county manager Litigants named in 'Cornell 7' assault lawsuit McDowell commissioners appoint Maggie Frye as new register of deeds NC man charged with 60-plus counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, police say McDowell County Schools alum completes undergrad in 2 years, starts master's program McDowell County Schools alumni spotlight: Early College grad's career brings her back home Marion man faces charges of breaking and entering, marijuana possession Marion community members gather to honor workers killed in 1929 strike Former Burke County coach charged with sex crimes against student in Hickory Historic Greensboro mansion on market for $5.1 million. Its pool table was placed by crane kAm%2J=@C 2AA62=65 E96 EC:2= 4@?G:4E:@? :? a__g] %96 }]r] pAA6==2E6 r@FCE 56?:65 E96 2AA62= :? a__h] %96 }]r] $FAC6>6 r@FCE 56?:65 C6G:6H @7 E96 2AA62= :? a_`_[ |F>>2 D2:5]k^AmkAm|F>>2 7:=65 2 D64@?5 2>6?565 G6CD:@? @7 2 >@E:@? 7@C 2AAC@AC:2E6 C6=:67 @? yF?6 ag] %96 7:CDE >@E:@? 7@C 2AAC@AC:2E6 C6=:67 H2D 7:=65 @? yF=J `f[ a_ab]k^Am kAm|F>>2 6IA=2:?65 E92E >@E:@?D 7@C 2AAC@AC:2E6 C6=:67 2C6 FD65 27E6C A@DE4@?G:4E:@? 2AA62=D 2C6 >256]k^Am kAm“pE E96 E:>6 @7 |p# W>@E:@? 7@C 2AAC@AC:2E6 C6=:67X 962C:?8[ 2== 4=2:>D E92E 2C6 2G2:=23=6 @C 4@F=5 92G6 366? 2G2:=23=6 >FDE 36 C2:D65[ @C E96J 2C6 32CC65 7C@> 36:?8 C2:D65 =2E6C[” |F>>2 D2:5] “%92E :D H9J :E E2<6D E:>6 E@ 7:=6 2? |p# — 2== A@DD:3=6 4=2:>D 92G6 E@ 36 4@?D:56C65]”k^Am kAm{@H6CJ H6?E >:DD:?8 :? yF=J @7 `hhb] {@H6CJ’D C6>2:?D H6C6 5:D4@G6C65 :? 2 H@@565 2C62 2=@?8 2 =@88:?8 C@25 ?62C {2<6 y2>6D :? u63CF2CJ `hhc] %2J=@C H2D 492C865 :? {@H6CJ’D 562E9 @? u63] a[ a__f[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED]k^Am Crime Read motion filed claiming man convicted of killing Zilpha Lowery in innocent s_johnson k9am%2J=@C’D 4=2:>Dk^9amkAm%96 >@E:@? 7@C 2AAC@AC:2E6 C6=:67 9:?86D >@DE=J @? E96 EC:2= E6DE:>@?J @7 %2J=@C’D 7@C>6C C@@>>2E6 #@3:? (9:E65] %96 >@E:@? 4=2:>D (9:E65 =:65 H9:=6 E6DE:7J:?8 2E E96 EC:2=] (9:E65 A=62565 8F:=EJ E@ 76=@?J 2:5:?8 2?5 236EE:?8 :? {@H6CJ’D 562E9]k^AmkAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 >@E:@?[ (9:E65 D:8?65 2? 277:52G:E :? y2?F2CJ @7 a_ab E@ C642?E 9:D EC:2= E6DE:>@?J]k^Am kAmsFC:?8 E96 EC:2= :? a__g[ (9:E65 E6DE:7:65 E92E %2J=@C 8@E {@H6CJ’D ?F>36C 7C@> E96 A9@?6 3@@< 2?5 :?G:E65 96C E@ 92?8 @FE] (9:E65 2?5 %2J=@C A:4<65 FA {@H6CJ 7C@> 2 ECF4< DE@A 2?5 3C@F89E 96C E@ E96 9@FD6] %96 E9C66 5C2?< 2=4@9@= E@86E96C] (9:E65 D2:5 96 2?5 {@H6CJ 925 D6IF2= :?E6C4@FCD6 E92E ?:89E]k^Am kAm(9:E65 D2:5 27E6C 96 2?5 {@H6CJ 925 D6I[ %2J=@C 6?E6C65 E96 365C@@> H2?E:?8 E@ 92G6 D6IF2= :?E6C4@FCD6 H:E9 {@H6CJ[ 3FE D96 C67FD65] (9:E65 D2:5 %2J=@C 9:E 9:> 2?5 42FD65 9:D 9625 E@ 3=665 H96? (9:E65 EC:65 E@ :?E6CG6?6 36EH66? %2J=@C 2?5 {@H6CJ] (9:E65 D2:5 96 =67E E96 365C@@> 2?5 4@F=5 962C E9F>A:?8 ?@:D6D] (96? 96 C6EFC?65 E@ E96 365C@@>[ {@H6CJ H2D 5625 @? E96 7=@@C[ (9:E65 D2:5]k^Am kAm(9:E65 E6DE:7:65 E92E 96 H6?E @FE E@ 9:D ECF4< 2?5 %2J=@C =2E6C 3C@F89E {@H6CJ’D 3@5J @FE E@ E96 ECF4<] %96 EH@ >6? 5C@G6 @FE E@ E96 H@@565 2C62 ?62C {2<6 y2>6D 2?5 5F>A65 {@H6CJ’D 3@5J[ 244@C5:?8 E@ (9:E65’D E6DE:>@?J]k^Am kAm(9:E65 D2:5 %2J=@C E9C62E6?65 9:D =:76 2?5 9:D 72>:=J :7 (9:E65 42==65 E96 A@=:46 @C E@=5 2?J@?6 23@FE H92E 92AA6?65]k^AmkAm(9:E65’D E6DE:>@?J H2D 5:776C6?E E92? 9:D DE2E6>6?ED :? >F=E:A=6 A@=:46 :?E6CG:6HD 5FC:?8 E96 :?G6DE:82E:@? DE2CE:?8 :? $6AE6>36C a__d[ %2J=@CVD >@E:@? 4=2:>D]k^AmkAm“|@C6 E92? E6? J62CD 27E6C +:=A9:2 {@H6CJ H2D >FC56C65[ (9:E65 82G6 2 5@K6? DE2E6>6?ED E@ =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 5FC:?8 E96 $E2E6’D :?G6DE:82E:@?[” E96 D64@?5 2>6?565 >@E:@? 7@C 2AAC@AC:2E6 C6=:67 DE2E6D] “%96 :?4@?D:DE6?4:6D :? E96D6 DE2E6>6?ED[ 2?5 E96 56=:36C2E6 2EE6>AED E@ 723C:42E6 2 DE@CJ E92E 4@CC@3@C2E65 E96 :?7@C>2E:@? F?4@G6C65 2?5 C6G62=65 5FC:?8 E96 $E2E6’D :?G6DE:82E:@?[ 2D H6== 2D E96 A9JD:42= 6G:56?46 4@==64E65 >F49 =2E6C[ 6DE23=:D9 E92E (9:E65’D E6DE:>@?J[ =:<6 >@DE @7 9:D DE2E6>6?ED[ H2D 72=D6]”k^Am kAmr@FCE 5@4F>6?ED DA6== E96 G:4E:>’D ?2>6 2D +:=A9:2 {@H6CJ] w6C 9625DE@?6 DA6==D 96C ?2>6 2D +:=A92 {@H6CJ]k^AmkAm%96 >@E:@? 2=D@ 4=2:>D %2J=@C 925 :?67764E:G6 C6AC6D6?E2E:@? 5FC:?8 E96 EC:2= 3642FD6 E96 5676?D6 2EE@C?6J 5:5 ?@E 4@?DF=E 2 s}p 6IA6CE C682C5:?8 3=@@5 D2>A=6D 82E96C65 3J =2H 6?7@C46>6?E] %96 2EE@C?6J 2=D@ 72:=65 E@ AC6D6?E 6G:56?46 @7 2=E6C?2E6 DFDA64ED 56DA:E6 92G:?8 6G:56?46[ E96 >@E:@? 4=2:>D]k^Am kAm“}6H=J 5:D4@G6C65 6G:56?46 6I:DED :? E96 7@C> @7 D4:6?E:7:4 25G2?46D :? s}p E6DE:?8[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 :?E6CAC6E2E:@? 2?5 C6A@CE:?8 8F:56=:?6D @FE=:?65 3J E96 $4:6?E:7:4 (@C<:?8 vC@FA @? s}p p?2=JD:D |6E9@5D W$(vsp|X AF3=:D965 :? pAC:= a_`_[” E96 >@E:@? DE2E6D] “%9:D ?6H=J 5:D4@G6C65 6G:56?46 F?56C>:?6D E96 C6=:23:=:EJ 2?5 244FC24J @7 E96 E6DE:?8[ 2?2=JD:D 2?5 :?E6CAC6E2E:@? @7 s}p 6G:56?46 :? E9:D 42D6]”k^Am kAm%96 >@E:@? 4=2:>D E92E H:E9@FE (9:E65’D E6DE:>@?J[ %2J=@C H@F=5 ?@E 92G6 366? 4@?G:4E65]k^AmkAm“w2=7 @7 E96 EC2?D4C:AE @7 E96 $E2E6VD 6G:56?46 2E EC:2= H2D W#@3:?X (9:E65VD E6DE:>@?J 2?5 E96 @E96C 92=7 :D E96 E6DE:>@?J @7 `a 5:776C6?E A6@A=6[ D@ J@F 42? D66 9@H :>A@CE2?E #@3:?VD E6DE:>@?J H2D[” |F>>2 D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:=] “(96? 4@\5676?52?ED 2C6 A:EE65 282:?DE 6249 @E96C 2?5 E9C62E6?65 H:E9 E96 562E9 A6?2=EJ @C =:76 :? AC:D@?[ :EVD AC6EEJ >@E:G2E:?8 E@ 4@@A6C2E6[ :??@46?E @C ?@E]”k^AmkAm|F>>2 36=:6G6D 96C 4=:6?E :D :??@46?E] |F>>2 D2:5 H92E DE@@5 @FE E@ 96C 23@FE %2J=@C’D 42D6 H2D (9:E65 492?8:?8 9:D DE@CJ >F=E:A=6 E:>6D 2?5 E96 FD6 @7 @=5 D2>A=6D E2<6? 7C@> 2 5:=2A:52E65 >@3:=6 9@>6] p44@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED[ E96 D2>A=6D 4@==64E65 7C@> E96 >@3:=6 9@>6 4@F=5 ?@E 36 567:?:E:G6=J AC@G6? E@ 36 {@H6CJ’D 3=@@5]k^Am k9am$E277:?8 D9@CE286 @7 AC@D64FE@CDk^9amkAm%96 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J’D ~77:46 92D ?@E 7:=65 2 C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 4=2:>D >256 :? E96 >@E:@? 7@C 2AAC@AC:2E6 C6=:67] %96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46 H2D @C56C65 @? yF?6 g[ a_ae[ E@ 564:56 H9@ H@F=5 36 92?5=:?8 E96 42D6 @? 3692=7 @7 E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46]k^Am kAm“%96C6 2C6 D:8?:7:42?E 2?5 4@>A=6I :DDF6D C2:D65 :? E96 @C:8:?2= 2?5 2>6?565 |p#D[” E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46 D2:5 :? C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 @C56C] “%96C6 2C6 @G6C `_[___ A286D @7 5:D4@G6CJ :? E9:D >2EE6C[ :?4=F5:?8 6IA6CE C6A@CED 2?5 s}p 2?2=JD:D]”k^Am kAm%96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46 C676C6?465 DE277:?8 D9@CE286D 2?5 2 492?86 :? 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J] s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J %65 q6== H2D 56762E65 :? E96 AC:>2CJ 6=64E:@? :? |2C49 2?5 H:== ?@ =@?86C 36 E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 J62C] %96 @77:46’D C6DA@?D6 D2:5 E92E 3642FD6 @7 E96 492?86 :? 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J[ E96 @77:46 H:== 36 =67E H:E9 @?=J EH@ 2DD:DE2?E 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6JD 3J pF8] b`] %9@D6 EH@ 2DD:DE2?E 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6JD H:== 36 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2== DFA6C:@C 2?5 5:DEC:4E 4@FCE 42D6D :? |4s@H6== 2?5 #FE96C7@C5 4@F?E:6D]k^Am kAm“x? 255:E:@? E@ E96D6 DE277:?8 :DDF6D[ E96C6 :D 2=D@ 2? 255:E:@?2= :DDF6 4C62E65 :7 E96 F?56CD:8?65’D W4FCC6?E 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6JX @FE8@:?8 25>:?:DEC2E:@? C6DA@?5D E@ E96D6 >@E:@?D[” E96 @77:46’D C6DA@?D6 DE2E6D] “$9@CE=J 27E6C E96 A@E6?E:2= 7:=:?8 @7 E96 C6DA@?D6[ E96 :?4@>:?8 25>:?:DEC2E:@? H:== E2<6 @G6C E9:D >2EE6C @? 3692=7 @7 E96 $E2E6] %96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? >:89E ?@E H2?E E@ 25@AE^DFAA@CE E96 A@D:E:@?D E2<6? :? E92E C6DA@?D6]”k^Am kAm%96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46 C6BF6DE65 2 D4965F=:?8 @C56C E92E H@F=5 2==@H E96 :?4@>:?8 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J E@ C6G:6H E96 >@E:@?D 2?5 C6DA@?5 244@C5:?8=J]k^AmkAm“r@=5 42D6 :?G6DE:82E:@?D @7 42D6D H96C6 E96C6 :D AF3=:4 AC6DDFC6 7@C C6D@=FE:@? 42? 72== AC6J E@ EF??6= G:D:@? 2?5 D=@AAJ :?G6DE:82E:@? 7F6=65 3J 2 ?665 7@C 2?DH6CD[” |F>>2 D2:5] “x? E9:D 42D6[ E92E C:D< H2D 96:89E6?65 3J E96 724E E92E E96 @77:46CD :?G@=G65 =24<65 E96 ?646DD2CJ EC2:?:?8 2?5 6IA6C:6?46] #@36CE %2J=@C 2?5 #@3:? (9:E65 H6C6 3@E9 4@?D:56C65 DFDA64ED 7@C {@H6CJVD >FC56C] #@36CE C6A62E65=J C6;64E65 2 D:I\J62C A=62 2?5 >2:?E2:?65 9:D :??@46?46] #@3:? 6?565 FA H:E9 AC@32E:@?]”k^Am kAm|F>>2’D 8@2= 7@C E96 42D6 :D E@ 92G6 E96 4@?G:4E:@? @G6CEFC?65 2?5 E96 492C86D 282:?DE %2J=@C 5:D>:DD65 H:E9 AC6;F5:46[ D96 D2:5]k^Am Sarah Johnson is the courts and breaking news reporter for the McDowell News. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. s_johnson Author email Follow s_johnson Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Nebo woman charged with stealing $700 in cash from her employer A business owner reported that an envelope containing the money was taken by an employee. Old Fort woman charged with possession, trafficking; 50 grams of meth seized An Old Fort woman has been charged with possession and trafficking of methamphetamine. NC man charged with 60-plus counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, police say Police say the 31-year-old man may have used the SnapChat social media forum to reach his minor victims, according to a news release from the … Marion man faces charges of breaking and entering, marijuana possession After detaining Cook, Baliles searched him and found multiple items belonging to the victim, along with marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Former Burke County coach charged with sex crimes against student in Hickory The man was an employee at Burke County Public Schools from August of 2023 to June of 2025. Watch Now: Related Video Trump's approval ratings underwater in over 30 states Trump Suggests Iran Should “Take Out” San Diego and LA Trump Suggests Iran Should “Take Out” San Diego and LA Suspected second-generation planet solves Hubble cold case for NASA Suspected second-generation planet solves Hubble cold case for NASA Data centers made this county rich. Then came the backlash Data centers made this county rich. Then came the backlash Recommended for you
s_johnson Author email Follow s_johnson Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Nebo woman charged with stealing $700 in cash from her employer A business owner reported that an envelope containing the money was taken by an employee.
Old Fort woman charged with possession, trafficking; 50 grams of meth seized An Old Fort woman has been charged with possession and trafficking of methamphetamine.
NC man charged with 60-plus counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, police say Police say the 31-year-old man may have used the SnapChat social media forum to reach his minor victims, according to a news release from the …
Marion man faces charges of breaking and entering, marijuana possession After detaining Cook, Baliles searched him and found multiple items belonging to the victim, along with marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Former Burke County coach charged with sex crimes against student in Hickory The man was an employee at Burke County Public Schools from August of 2023 to June of 2025.
