Father Charged in Death of 3-Month-Old in Marion

The father of a 3-month-old infant who died in September 2024 has been charged with murder and felony child abuse, authorities said on March 25.

Timothy Michael Blake Thorne, 31, was served with the charges related to the death of his daughter, Willow Thorne, and remains in the McDowell County Jail without bond. Thorne was already in custody on an unrelated charge.

According to a statement from the Marion Police Department, officers responded to a report of an infant in cardiac arrest at 34 Carroll Street just after midnight on Sept. 12, 2024. Officers were met by Thorne and directed upstairs, where they found the unresponsive child with her mother, Evelyn Lowery, 32.

Emergency personnel, including Marion Police and McDowell County EMS, began lifesaving measures on scene. The infant was transported to McDowell Hospital and later to Mission Hospital in Asheville, but died later that day despite continued medical efforts.

Investigators took over the case immediately and conducted interviews with the parents while awaiting medical records. The investigation spanned a year and a half before charges were filed on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

The Marion Police Department thanked the McDowell Sheriff’s Office, McDowell County EMS, staff at McDowell and Mission hospitals, and the District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the case.

Officials said the investigation remains active and additional charges could be filed as the review continues.