By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — A Kannapolis woman who pleaded guilty in 2007 to the attempted murder of Thomas Vogt Jr. has now pleaded guilty to second-degree murder following his death four years ago.
Chandaliea Lowder, now 33, pleaded guilty Monday afternoon in a Rowan County Superior courtroom to killing Vogt in September 2005.
Lowder will serve between 14.5 years to 18.25 years.
Vogt was shot in the neck and the chest area and left for dead in the woods near Enochville.
A resident who lived in the area saw Lowder and Jason Ray Sullivan and Michael “Mike” Joseph McDowell leaving the wooded area and followed them for a distance. That man discovered Vogt’s body hidden with debris.
The incident stemmed from an allegation that Vogt inappropriately touched one of Lowder’s children. Vogt survived the shooting but was paralyzed.
In 2007, Lowder pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder, and her co-defendants, McDowell and Sullivan pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious injury.
The three had served about a year in prison when Vogt died in May 2008. Then District Attorney Bill Kenerly filed new charges in the case.
Sullivan has since served his time for his involvement. McDowell is currently serving time in prison, but awaiting re-sentencing for the murder charge at a later time.
See Tuesday’s Post for more details.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.