BENNETTSVILLE, S.C. – The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office has called in the FBI to assist in the search for eight-year-old Iyana Latrice Lowery, who went missing following the murder of her mother.
Authorities have also made an arrest in the death of child’s mother, Ella Shantrica Lowery. The sheriff’s office has charged Dwayne Jermaine Bright, 36, of North Everett Street, was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Ella Shantrica Lowery was discovered dead inside her Craig Circle home Friday morning, and officials realized the child was missing soon after. On Saturday, Marlboro County Coroner, Tim Brown ruled the mother’s death as a homicide.
Brown said he believed Lowery died at the scene, but would not say what the cause of death was.
“I’m not releasing any other information at this time,” Brown said. “We still have an eight-year-old child missing, and I don’t want to release anything else until we find the little one.”
The sheriff’s office brought in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division – SLED – on Friday to assist with the search and requested the assistance of the FBI on Saturday.
“The MCSO, SLED and FBI worked all day again on Saturday and into Sunday morning to search more areas including a home in Bennettsville,” said Jamie Seals public information office for Marlboro County.
The investigation into Iyana’s disappearance has included the help of several counties and numerous areas of Marlboro County have been searched, according to Seals.
Bennettsville Police Department, Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Forestry Commission, Marlboro County EMS, and Marlboro County Fire Department have all assisted in the search since Friday.
The search team is made up of 125 members from the various agencies involved.
“We are working as hard as we possibly can to bring a resolution to this case and find Iyana; all agencies are working 20 hour days to accomplish this,” said Sheriff Charles Lemon. “We have expertise from all around the United States collaborating to bring Iyana home.”
Lake Paul Wallace and a city trash dump were among sites searched on Monday.
The investigation is “very fluid right now,” with the circumstances subject to change at a moment’s notice, according to Seals.
Over the weekend Marlboro County residents formed a group to assist with the search, but were asked by Lemon to refrain from looking on Monday.
Finding the child is “of the highest priority,” Lemon said. He asked for the continued support of the community and asked that the public “remain vigilant” in searching for the child and sharing information.
“This is not a time as a community to remain silent if you have information,” Lemon said. “Your piece of information may be critical in saving the life of Iyana.
Iyana Lowery stands 4 feet 2 inches tall, has black hair worn in a ponytail, brown eyes and weighs 100 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office at 843-479-5605 or 911, and say that it is in relation to the case. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-888-Crime SC.
No bond information for Bright was available at press time.
Bright’s record shows only a few misdemeanor charges including public drunkenness and disorderly conduct dating back to 2011.
