Whitley County Grand Jury indicts Lowe, Mattie for murder

A Whitley County Grand Jury has indicted a southern Whitley County couple for murder in connection with the beating death of a woman, who was found dead in a bedroom at their home last month.

The grand jury indicted Chris James Lowe, 39, and Lori Mattie, 37, both of 324 Old Mud Creek Road, charging them with murder and first-degree unlawful imprisonment in the death of Michelle Marlow, 36, of Williamsburg.

Lowe was also indicted for tampering with physical evidence for allegedly moving Marlow’s body after having beaten her.

Mattie was also indicted for being a second-degree persistent felony offender with a prior 2012 Whitley County felony conviction for theft $10,000 or more, according to her indictment.

Both pleaded not guilty during their arraignments Monday before Judge Paul Winchester, who scheduled an Oct. 16 pre-trial conference in their cases.

Both are being held in the Whitley County Detention Center in lieu of $500,000 cash bonds, which were previously set in district court.

About 7:12 p.m. on July 23, KSP Sgt. Tony Dingess responded to a call about an unresponsive female lying in the roadway on Old Mud Creek Road.

Dingess found blood near Mattie and Lowe’s residence and a trail of blood leading to their residence, according to their arrest citations.

When Dingess entered the home, he found Marlow dead in a bedroom, and both Chris Lowe and Mattie with blood on them, an arrest citation stated.

Chris Lowe and Mattie were in a relationship and were living together. Marlow was an acquaintance, who spent the night at their home, KSP Detective Eric Moore testified during a recent preliminary hearing.

Charles Lowe, who called 911, told police that he saw two females lying in the road and one was not breathing, Moore testified.

Another witness later saw Chris Lowe dragging someone from the roadway, Moore testified.

Police believe that a large walking stick, which was broken in two, was used to assault Marlow.

One piece of it was recovered in the road near a large pool of blood. Police recovered the other piece in the bathroom of Mattie and Lowe’s residence with blood splattered on it, according to testimony.

Chris Lowe believed that Marlow stole money from him, Moore testified about the alleged motive for the killing.