A Statesville man awaiting trial in connection with a 2022 crash that claimed the lives of a father and his two children is back in custody after a judge ruled he violated the conditions of his release.
26-year-old Austin Ray Harmon was ordered back to the Iredell County Detention Center after a hearing in Iredell County Superior Court on Tuesday, October 7. Judge Troy Stafford increased Harmon’s bond from $310,000 to $750,000, citing evidence that he failed to comply with court-imposed restrictions.
Harmon faces multiple charges stemming from the June 2022 crash on Fort Dobbs Road near Statesville, including three counts of felony death by motor vehicle, three counts of serious injury by motor vehicle, driving while impaired, and reckless driving.
Investigators said Harmon’s vehicle collided with a golf cart driven by 39-year-old Michael Shane Marlowe, killing Marlowe and two of his children — five-year-old Bentley and 13-year-old Jada Marlowe. Marlowe’s partner, Amy Mills, their daughter, Bailey, and a family friend, Teagan Murphy, were all seriously injured in the collision.
While out on bond, Harmon was arrested in 2023 by Statesville Police for being intoxicated and disruptive. Following that incident, the court imposed additional restrictions, including a ban on alcohol and illegal substances, and required Harmon to wear a continuous alcohol monitoring device.
More recently, Harmon was involved in another wreck in September, prompting prosecutors to request a bond review. During Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Stafford said it was clear that Harmon had violated the terms of his release. The judge then raised Harmon’s bond to $750,000 and ordered that he be returned to custody.
The case remains pending in Iredell County Superior Court as prosecutors prepare for trial.
