PERRY -- A Warner Robins man convicted of murdering a 19-year-old behind a burned out building at a Warner Robins apartment complex was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus five years.
Marquis Torez Lowe, 27, of Warner Robins, maintained his innocence through his Perry attorney Russell K. Walker at the sentencing hearing before Superior Court Judge Katherine K. Lumsden.
The sentencing came the day after a Houston County jury found Lowe guilty on all counts of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Trey Lorenz Dinkins, 20, of Warner Robins, is accused with Lowe of murdering Dajohn Milton on his birthday, March 20, 2011, at the Cedar Pointe Apartment complex off Ignico Drive. Dinkins is expected to be tried at a later date.
During the hearing Friday, Houston County prosecutor Daniel P. Bibler told the judge the maximum sentence was sought because of the brutality of the shooting and Lowe’s prior felony convictions.
Bibler quoted a statement made by one of the witnesses during the trial to illustrate the “coldheartedness” of the crime and the “absence of remorse” by Lowe.
Blaine Arnold, 18, testified during the trial that Lowe told him when the two were jailed in Houston County together that he finished the job of gunning down Milton in a botched robbery attempt for drugs. Arnold testified that Dinkins fired first, Milton was still alive and that Lowe then grabbed the .380-caliber handgun from Dinkins and shot Milton. Milton was shot nine times while on the ground and left to bleed to death.
Lowe had several burglary convictions and one possession of cocaine conviction that were considered by the judge when she rendered sentencing. Bibler said Lowe was being sentenced as a recidivist.
What is sad about the case, Lumsden said from the bench, is that one young man lost his life and now a still relatively young man has lost his life “for all intensive purposes” with life in prison.
Walker told the judge that while there were serious questions about the prosecution’s case, he understood Lowe must serve life without parole under state law. The firearms conviction must be added to run consecutive to the life sentence also under law, Lumsden said from the bench.
Also, a letter was read during the hearing on behalf of Milton’s family, who asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence. Milton’s father and grandmother were in the courtroom. No one was there for Lowe except his attorney.
“His actions gave us a life sentence, and that is the rest of our lives to think about how Dajohn was betrayed and murdered,” the letter stated. “Since DaJohn was murdered, we now find it hard to trust, acknowledge birthdays or to visit where he lived with his grandmother and dad. ... We go to an empty room with some of his belongings still there. We know he will not be coming out of his room to greet us or give us a smile.”
The letter also stated that with the help of God, the family can forgive Lowe.
Afterward, Carrie Milton, 66, Milton’s grandmother, and Tracy Milton, 46, his father, both said their hearts go out to Lowe in spite of what he did.
Carrie Milton said she hopes that young people will learn from the tragedy and “turn their lives over to God before it’s too late.”
To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.
