BENNETTSVILLE, SC (WBTW) – Arrest warrants for the man accused of killing a Bennettsville woman and then kidnapping and murdering her 8-year-old daughter have been released.
The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office released Tuesday that Jejauncey Harrington, 32, of Bennettsville, faces two new charges related to the murders of Ella Lowery, of Bennettsville, and her 8-year-old daughter, Iyana Lowery.
Harrington was previously jailed for the May 5 stabbing murder of Ella Lowery. He was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime connected to Ella Lowery’s death. Harrington was also charged with kidnapping and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in connection with the disappearance of Iyana Lowery.
A press release distributed by SLED Tuesday noted that the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office added a murder charge and armed robbery to Harrington’s criminal accusations after the body of Iyana Lowery was discovered Sunday morning and identified Tuesday.
Warrants released by SLED Wednesday give new insight into the crimes Harrington is accused of committing.
According to the armed robbery arrest warrant, Harrington robbed his murder victim, Ella Lowery, after stabbing her multiple times. Law enforcement agents obtained video footage from New Bridge Road in McColl that places Harrington near an abandoned home where “personal belongings of Ella Lowery were found after the murder.”
The warrant goes on to say the robbery occurred at the scene of the murder at Ella Lowery’s home on Craig Circle in Bennettsville.
A second arrest warrant, issued for the murder of Iyana Lowery, states that Harrington “did commit the crime set forth. [Harrington] did kill the victim, an 8-year-old child.” The warrant details how Harrington killed the young girl after kidnapping her from her home on or about May 5, after killing Iyana’s mother. Harrington placed Iyana Lowery’s body in a remote pool of water off New Bridge Road in McColl, where she was discovered May 14. Harrington “transported [Iyana] in a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse,” where Iyana’s DNA was found in the trunk of the car, the warrant reports.
News13’s Kiahnna Patterson spoke with the homeowner whose home security camera caught what deputies believe to be
Harrington’s car parked at the abandoned home where Ella Lowery’s property was discovered.
“It captured a vehicle going into the driveway here at this abandoned house and pulling around to the back. They stayed about two and a half three hours,” describes the owner of the security camera who did not want to be identified.
Time codes on the video show a car pulled onto the abandoned property the morning of May 5 around 2:30 a.m., and leave around 5:15 a.m.The homeowner
“Then you can see them come out with no lights on. Then travel down the road with no lights,” describes the homeowner.
The owner of the camera that captured the key evidence says he made the connection when Harrington was arrested.
“As soon as I heard who it was, I knew he (Harrington) had a past and got away with it. I figured if he did something it’s going to be across the road. That’s when I went to pull up the footage,” claims the homeowner.
The homeowner says it’s painful being surrounded by locations where deputies discovered evidence in a murder case and 8-year-old Iyana Lowery’s body.
“You can’t look at the house the same anymore, knowing what happened. Can’t look at that bridge, knowing what happened. Now I have to live across the street from it,” says the resident.
News13 did not show the surveillance video at the request of law enforcement and the prosecutor to help preserve evidence in the cases of Ella and Iyana Lowery’s murders.
While the sheriff’s office says Facebook messages, phone records, and witnesses confirm a relationship existed between Harrington and Ella Lowery, no motive for the two murders has been released.
Harrington remains in the Marlboro County Detention Center. He has not yet had his first appearance in court on any of the charges.
