Bob’s Story

The War Came Home With Him

Combat leaves lasting wounds. Bob has since been diagnosed with severe PTSD, a condition

now widely recognized among Vietnam veterans who were trained to kill, witnessed

extreme violence, and were then expected to seamlessly return to civilian life. In the years

following his service, Bob struggled silently, like many veterans of his generation. The

system that trained him for war failed to care for him afterward.

A Crime, Accountability, and 34 Years of Remorse

In 1983, Bob made the worst decision of his life. When a fellow Marine asked for help, Bob

agreed—out of loyalty ingrained by military service. That decision led to his involvement in

the kidnapping and murder of Roy Radin. Bob did not pull the trigger, but in 1991 he was

convicted of second-degree murder and kidnapping and sentenced to Life Without the

Possibility of Parole.

Bob has never denied his responsibility. He has accepted full accountability for his role in

the murder and expressed genuine remorse. He has forgiveness from those he harmed. For

more than three decades, he has worked every day to atone for that decision.

A Model Prisoner for Over Three Decades

Bob has spent 34 years incarcerated with an exemplary record. He has never been

disciplined for violence, drugs, or misconduct—an extraordinary achievement in one of the

toughest prison systems in the country. He has now achieved the lowest security

classification available for his sentence but had been housed at multiple institutions,

including the notorious Folsom Prison.

During his incarceration, Bob dedicated himself to helping others. He served as a teacher’s

aide and led GED study programs that helped dozens of inmates earn their high school

diplomas. He worked as a library clerk, captain’s clerk, and served on the Inmate Activity

Council. He was also Vice Chairman of the liaison committee between inmates and staff. Bob

chose service, mentorship, and accountability—even behind bars.

Every inmate has a Personal File as part of their custody, within that file is what is described

" Confidential, " this is only accessible to few because of the safety of the inmate. Some

twenty years ago Bob put his own life on the line to let his supervising officer know that

another inmate was planning to kill a staff person. After an investigation this warning was

confirmed. Bob Lowe saved the life of a prison counselor. A chrono was written and put

in Bpob Lowe's confidential file. Ironically not one staff has ever thanked Bob.

An Elderly Man, Not a Threat

Bob is now almost 80 years old. He poses no risk to public safety. He uses prison-issued

mobility aids and faces the physical realities of aging behind bars. Bob had had cancer.

Keeping an elderly, nonviolent, rehabilitated man incarcerated until death serves no public

safety purpose and comes at great human and financial cost to Bob and society in general.

A Family Waiting to Care for Him

Unlike many aging inmates, Bob is not alone. He has two elderly sisters, children, nieces,

nephews, and grandchildren who love him and are ready to welcome him home. He has a

confirmed place to live, a strong family support system, and opportunities to volunteer and

give back in meaningful ways. Bob does not seek freedom to escape responsibility—he

seeks the chance to live his final years surrounded by family, dignity, and purpose.

Justice Should Allow Mercy

Bob Lowe has served his country, taken responsibility for his crimes, and spent more than

three decades proving he is capable of remorse, growth, and service. His sentence is longer

than the people who killed the victim, making his continued incarceration deeply unjust.

Releasing Bob Lowe would not erase the past. It would acknowledge the full measure of his

accountability, his rehabilitation, his age, and his humanity.

Please join us in calling for compassion, justice, and mercy for Bob Lowe, a Marine Corps

combat veteran who, like all other veterans, just wants to come home.