John Lowden, a former sergeant first class and Special Forces operative in the United States Army, had a storied career, having served an impressive five tours in Afghanistan before his retirement due to severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
Born to a tumultuous family, Lowden was the son of Sally McNeil, a bodybuilder and convicted murderer who was found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband, Ray McNeil. The highly publicized trial garnered significant media attention, with McNeil claiming the shooting was in self-defense.
Lowden's life took a dramatic turn with the release of the 2022 Netflix documentary mini-series, Killer Sally, which delved into his family's troubled past and the events leading up to the trial. For the first time, Lowden publicly spoke about his stepfather, accusing Ray McNeil of physically and emotionally abusing him, his sister, and their mother.
Tragically, John Lowden's life was cut short on March 4, 2024, when he was fatally shot in Augusta, Georgia. At the time of his death, Lowden was homeless and struggling with the lingering effects of PTSD.
The suspect, Robert Ward, was apprehended three days later and charged with murder. Ward, a father of three, remains at large, awaiting trial.
