Man Accused Of Murder Attempts Suicide

Published On: Oct 14 2011 02:31:18 PM EDT  Updated On: Jun 13 2008 10:02:12 AM EDT
PALATKA, Fla. -

A 22-year-old man awaiting trial on a charge of murder tried to commit suicide Friday morning by attempting to hang himself with a bedsheet, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said.

A corrections officer found Toby Lowry hanging in his cell at 9:45 a.m.

"The doors are locked back there, so he reached through the bars and held Toby up while the other corrections officers came running, were able to open the cell block, get in and cut him down," Maj. Keith Riddick said.

Lowry was transported to Putnam County Medical Center for evaluation, where deputies said he was under heavy guard.

Riddick said Lowry was conscious and alert, crying and apologizing by the time the ambulance arrived.

Once he was medically cleared, he was returned to jail and placed in isolation with no bedsheets and under constant supervision.

Lowry and 15-year-old Morgan Leppert are accused of killing a Melrose man before fleeing the state in the victim's pickup truck. Both are accused of first-degree murder.

James Stewart, 66, was found dead in his Melrose home on May 1. Authorities said he was beaten, stabbed and suffocated.

Leppert, who was the focus of a nationwide Amber Alert after she disappeared with Lowry, appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday.

A hearing was scheduled in Lowry's case on Thursday, but prosecutors told Channel 4 that the defendant waived his appearance.

Lowry is facing charges of first-degree murder, auto theft, interference with custody and panhandling. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Leppert is also charged with first-degree murder and auto theft. Because of her age, she would not face the death penalty if convicted.

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