On September 12th 2024 at 12:03 AM officers with the Marion Police Department responded to an infant in cardiac arrest at 34 Carroll Street. Upon arrival officers were met by the father W/M 31-year-old Timothy Michael Blake Thorne where they were directed upstairs.
Once upstairs officers located a female infant approximately 3 months old in a bedroom unresponsive with the mother W/F 32-year-old Evelyn Lowery. Emergency personnel on scene to include Marion Police and McDowell County EMS immediately began lifesaving measures. While those efforts continued the child was transported by EMS to the McDowell Hospital.
Medical personnel at McDowell Hospital continued lifesaving attempts and the child was eventually transported to Mission Hospital in Asheville for further treatment. However, despite everyone’s best efforts the child died later that same day while still at the hospital. Marion Police Investigators had already taken over the case and were actively speaking with the parents of the infant about details leading up to the original call.
Through the course of a lengthy investigation which spanned a year and six months a conclusion has finally been reached. During that time investigators conducted many interviews and awaited important medical records. On Wednesday March 25th, 2026 the father of the infant, Timothy Michael Blake Thorne has been charged with one count of Murder and one count of Felony Child Abuse. Thorne was already being held in the McDowell County Jail on an unrelated charge. Thorne was served today with the charges related to this case and still remains in the McDowell County jail being held currently with no bond.
The Marion Police Department would like to thank everyone involved with this case to include; The McDowell Sheriff’s Office, McDowell County EMS, and Medical Staff with both McDowell Hospital and Mission Hospital. We would also like to thank the District Attorneys Office for their help and assistance navigating this incident from the beginning.
This case remains active and investigators are still reviewing to see if any other charges are going to be filed.
