Nancy Metayer Bowen, the 38-year-old vice mayor of Coral Springs, Florida, was found dead in her home on March 31 in a suspected domestic violence incident, according to Coral Springs Police Chief Brad Mock. Her body was discovered in an upstairs bedroom, wrapped in blankets and placed inside garbage bags, alongside spent shotgun shells.
Her husband, 40-year-old Stephen Bowen, was arrested and charged with premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. Court documents obtained and as reported by TMZ revealed that Bowen told his uncle, Owen Small, he shot his wife because he “couldn’t take it anymore” and had asked his relative to temporarily hold a shotgun.
Police responded to a welfare check after Metayer Bowen missed scheduled meetings, including a city commission session on April 1. Officers noted “explosive-like” damage to the exterior of the home, prompting a SWAT team entry. Chief Mock confirmed the case is being treated as domestic in nature, though the investigation is ongoing.
Metayer Bowen, first elected to the Coral Springs City Commission in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, had recently begun her second one-year term as vice mayor. She was the first Black woman and Haitian American to serve on the commission, and was reportedly preparing to announce a run for Congress, as reported by CBS News.
Tributes have poured in from colleagues and family. “My heart is extremely heavy,” said Coral Springs City Commissioner Joshua Simmons. Her sister wrote on Instagram that Metayer Bowen “led with integrity, compassion, and an unwavering sense of purpose,” calling her “a source of strength, wisdom, and love.”
U.S. Representative Jared Moskowitz also expressed shock at the news.
Metayer Bowen is remembered as a tireless advocate for her community, committed to environmental justice, unity, and meaningful change.
No official motive beyond the suspect’s statement has been publicly disclosed.