Abin Lee Lowman, age 40, of Edgefield, was found guilty today by a Saluda County Jury after a week-long trial for the home invasion of the owners of Tidwell Jewelers, Danny and Lynda Tidwell. The jury deliberated for about 35 minutes before convicting Lowman of Burglary First Degree, Armed Robbery, two counts of Kidnapping, and Criminal Conspiracy. This case was tried by Solicitor Rick Hubbard and Assistant Solicitor Sutania Fuller. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole due to the violent nature of this offense as well as his prior record for violent and serious crimes.

Solicitor Rick Hubbard commented that “this was a horrific crime that took place in such a close knit community. The Tidwells lost a sense of peace and safety at the hands of Lowman that could never be restored. This life sentence will hopefully bring the Tidwells the closure that they need.”

On March 8, 2017, Lowman orchestrated a plan to break into the home of the Tidwells during the middle of the night. On March 1st, Lowman brought three individuals from Maryland down to Saluda, with the intention of robbing the Tidwells. The Tidwells are a Saluda couple who own and operate three jewelry stores in the area. 

When they all arrived in South Carolina, they spent a week preparing to carry out this home invasion. Shortly after midnight, Lowman and his co-defendants approached the Tidwells’ residence. When they entered the residence they yelled they were ATF Agents.  This startled the Tidwells and, they walked out of their bedroom to find men wearing dark outfits, armed with pistols, and yelling for him to get to the ground.  The Tidwells were tied up while the men brandished pistols and led them to separate rooms. 

The three co-defendants all eventually made it back to Maryland where they were arrested and brought back to South Carolina. Their charges are still pending. Lowman was arrested the night of the incident during an unrelated traffic stop in Johnston near Tidwell Jewelers.

Several agencies assisted in the investigation and trial of this case. We are grateful to the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Greenville Department of Public Safety, Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office, and Johnston Police Department.