Topline: Investigators detail how concerned colleagues triggered a welfare check that ultimately led to the discovery of the vice mayor’s body inside the residence.
Published: April 4, 2026 8:34 am ET
Must Read
Nancy Metayer Bowen (via Facebook)
CORAL SPRINGS, FL — The killing of a South Florida vice mayor unfolded over the course of less than a day, beginning with what her husband described to his mother as a “panic attack” and ending, police say, in a premeditated act of domestic violence that left a rising political figure dead inside her home.
According to an arrest report obtained by WPLG, 40-year-old Stephen Bowen told his mother Tuesday afternoon that he had experienced a “panic attack at work” and planned to speak with his wife, Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, about it. By the following morning, investigators say, he had shot her to death.
Police discovered Metayer Bowen, 38, inside the couple’s home in the 800 block of Northwest 127th Avenue shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday during a welfare check prompted by concerned colleagues, according to reporting from ABC News. She had failed to appear for a scheduled meeting, raising alarm among city staff.
An hour into that meeting, a city employee texted Stephen Bowen asking him to have his wife call. “Texted her,” he replied. “She is not picking up.” Authorities later said that message came after he had already killed her overnight, according to WPLG.
Officers who responded to the home around 10:20 a.m. found no vehicles in the driveway and received no response at the door. Stephen Bowen also was not answering his phone, police said. His parents arrived about an hour later at the request of Metayer Bowen’s mother, and his mother told officers she was unaware of any marital problems between the couple, according to the arrest report.
As the situation escalated into a missing persons investigation, a detective observed damage to the home’s second floor “consistent with force” and “damage caused by projectiles,” WPLG reported. NBC Miami similarly described “explosive-like damage” that appeared to have originated from inside.
The investigation took a decisive turn just before 2 p.m., when Stephen Bowen’s uncle called 911. He told dispatchers his nephew had come to his home earlier that morning and admitted “he did something to her” and that “she was not alive,” according to the arrest report cited by multiple outlets.
That call allowed officers to enter the residence without a warrant. Inside, they found Metayer Bowen’s body in a second-floor bedroom, lying in bed and wrapped in blankets and garbage bags, according to WPLG and NBC Miami. Investigators later recovered three spent shotgun shells and a pillow with burn marks and string “as if it were fashioned as a makeshift silencer,” the report states.
The uncle provided further details to investigators, saying Stephen Bowen asked him to hold a shotgun “for a couple of weeks,” warning that he would need gloves or a bag. When pressed, Bowen allegedly admitted he shot his wife “three times with a shotgun the previous night and then slept downstairs,” according to NBC Miami.
“When asked why (he killed her), Stephen Bowen said that he ‘couldn’t take it anymore,’” the report states.
Authorities tracked Bowen’s pickup truck to an apartment complex in Plantation, where they observed him handing a gun bag to another man, according to WPLG. The man later told police the two were Freemasons meeting to discuss an upcoming gathering and said he was unaware of any crime. As officers moved in, Bowen reportedly said, “Oh s—, they’re here for me,” according to the arrest report.
Bowen was taken into custody around 2:35 p.m. and invoked his right to an attorney, police said. He has since been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence and is being held without bond at the Broward Main Jail, according to WPLG and NBC Miami.
Police Chief Brad Mock described the case as a “domestic violence incident,” according to ABC News.
Metayer Bowen, first elected in 2020, was the first Black and Haitian American woman to serve as a city commissioner in Coral Springs and was re-elected in 2024 before being appointed vice mayor by her colleagues, according to her official biography cited by ABC News. An environmental scientist by training, she previously worked with the Broward County Soil and Water Conservation District, contributing to responses to Hurricanes Irma, Michael and Dorian.
News of her death prompted an outpouring of grief from city leaders and colleagues.
“We are heartbroken to share that Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer has died,” the city said in a statement posted to social media, according to ABC News. “She was more than a public servant, she was a light in our community. Her leadership was grounded in compassion, strength, and an unwavering commitment to others. Her impact on Coral Springs is immeasurable, and her loss leaves a void in our hearts.”
Speaking at a briefing, City Commissioner Joshua Simmons called her a colleague and “battle buddy,” adding, “She had such a good heart. She truly cared about people.”
City Manager Catherine Givens said, “To say today is a very dark day for us in Coral Springs is an understatement. There are no words that can truly capture the depth of this loss.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Police: Vice Mayor Shot Three Times By Husband, Body Hidden in Bedroom
Investigators detail how concerned colleagues triggered a welfare check that ultimately led to the discovery of the vice mayor’s body inside the residence.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 4, 2026 8:34 am ET
Nancy Metayer Bowen (via Facebook)
CORAL SPRINGS, FL — The killing of a South Florida vice mayor unfolded over the course of less than a day, beginning with what her husband described to his mother as a “panic attack” and ending, police say, in a premeditated act of domestic violence that left a rising political figure dead inside her home.
According to an arrest report obtained by WPLG, 40-year-old Stephen Bowen told his mother Tuesday afternoon that he had experienced a “panic attack at work” and planned to speak with his wife, Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, about it. By the following morning, investigators say, he had shot her to death.
Police discovered Metayer Bowen, 38, inside the couple’s home in the 800 block of Northwest 127th Avenue shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday during a welfare check prompted by concerned colleagues, according to reporting from ABC News. She had failed to appear for a scheduled meeting, raising alarm among city staff.
An hour into that meeting, a city employee texted Stephen Bowen asking him to have his wife call. “Texted her,” he replied. “She is not picking up.” Authorities later said that message came after he had already killed her overnight, according to WPLG.
Officers who responded to the home around 10:20 a.m. found no vehicles in the driveway and received no response at the door. Stephen Bowen also was not answering his phone, police said. His parents arrived about an hour later at the request of Metayer Bowen’s mother, and his mother told officers she was unaware of any marital problems between the couple, according to the arrest report.
As the situation escalated into a missing persons investigation, a detective observed damage to the home’s second floor “consistent with force” and “damage caused by projectiles,” WPLG reported. NBC Miami similarly described “explosive-like damage” that appeared to have originated from inside.
The investigation took a decisive turn just before 2 p.m., when Stephen Bowen’s uncle called 911. He told dispatchers his nephew had come to his home earlier that morning and admitted “he did something to her” and that “she was not alive,” according to the arrest report cited by multiple outlets.
That call allowed officers to enter the residence without a warrant. Inside, they found Metayer Bowen’s body in a second-floor bedroom, lying in bed and wrapped in blankets and garbage bags, according to WPLG and NBC Miami. Investigators later recovered three spent shotgun shells and a pillow with burn marks and string “as if it were fashioned as a makeshift silencer,” the report states.
The uncle provided further details to investigators, saying Stephen Bowen asked him to hold a shotgun “for a couple of weeks,” warning that he would need gloves or a bag. When pressed, Bowen allegedly admitted he shot his wife “three times with a shotgun the previous night and then slept downstairs,” according to NBC Miami.
“When asked why (he killed her), Stephen Bowen said that he ‘couldn’t take it anymore,’” the report states.
Authorities tracked Bowen’s pickup truck to an apartment complex in Plantation, where they observed him handing a gun bag to another man, according to WPLG. The man later told police the two were Freemasons meeting to discuss an upcoming gathering and said he was unaware of any crime. As officers moved in, Bowen reportedly said, “Oh s—, they’re here for me,” according to the arrest report.
Bowen was taken into custody around 2:35 p.m. and invoked his right to an attorney, police said. He has since been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence and is being held without bond at the Broward Main Jail, according to WPLG and NBC Miami.
Police Chief Brad Mock described the case as a “domestic violence incident,” according to ABC News.
Metayer Bowen, first elected in 2020, was the first Black and Haitian American woman to serve as a city commissioner in Coral Springs and was re-elected in 2024 before being appointed vice mayor by her colleagues, according to her official biography cited by ABC News. An environmental scientist by training, she previously worked with the Broward County Soil and Water Conservation District, contributing to responses to Hurricanes Irma, Michael and Dorian.
News of her death prompted an outpouring of grief from city leaders and colleagues.
“We are heartbroken to share that Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer has died,” the city said in a statement posted to social media, according to ABC News. “She was more than a public servant, she was a light in our community. Her leadership was grounded in compassion, strength, and an unwavering commitment to others. Her impact on Coral Springs is immeasurable, and her loss leaves a void in our hearts.”
Speaking at a briefing, City Commissioner Joshua Simmons called her a colleague and “battle buddy,” adding, “She had such a good heart. She truly cared about people.”
City Manager Catherine Givens said, “To say today is a very dark day for us in Coral Springs is an understatement. There are no words that can truly capture the depth of this loss.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Police: Vice Mayor Shot Three Times By Husband, Body Hidden in Bedroom
Investigators detail how concerned colleagues triggered a welfare check that ultimately led to the discovery of the vice mayor’s body inside the residence.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 4, 2026 8:34 am ET
Nancy Metayer Bowen (via Facebook)
CORAL SPRINGS, FL — The killing of a South Florida vice mayor unfolded over the course of less than a day, beginning with what her husband described to his mother as a “panic attack” and ending, police say, in a premeditated act of domestic violence that left a rising political figure dead inside her home.
According to an arrest report obtained by WPLG, 40-year-old Stephen Bowen told his mother Tuesday afternoon that he had experienced a “panic attack at work” and planned to speak with his wife, Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, about it. By the following morning, investigators say, he had shot her to death.
Police discovered Metayer Bowen, 38, inside the couple’s home in the 800 block of Northwest 127th Avenue shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday during a welfare check prompted by concerned colleagues, according to reporting from ABC News. She had failed to appear for a scheduled meeting, raising alarm among city staff.
An hour into that meeting, a city employee texted Stephen Bowen asking him to have his wife call. “Texted her,” he replied. “She is not picking up.” Authorities later said that message came after he had already killed her overnight, according to WPLG.
Officers who responded to the home around 10:20 a.m. found no vehicles in the driveway and received no response at the door. Stephen Bowen also was not answering his phone, police said. His parents arrived about an hour later at the request of Metayer Bowen’s mother, and his mother told officers she was unaware of any marital problems between the couple, according to the arrest report.
As the situation escalated into a missing persons investigation, a detective observed damage to the home’s second floor “consistent with force” and “damage caused by projectiles,” WPLG reported. NBC Miami similarly described “explosive-like damage” that appeared to have originated from inside.
The investigation took a decisive turn just before 2 p.m., when Stephen Bowen’s uncle called 911. He told dispatchers his nephew had come to his home earlier that morning and admitted “he did something to her” and that “she was not alive,” according to the arrest report cited by multiple outlets.
That call allowed officers to enter the residence without a warrant. Inside, they found Metayer Bowen’s body in a second-floor bedroom, lying in bed and wrapped in blankets and garbage bags, according to WPLG and NBC Miami. Investigators later recovered three spent shotgun shells and a pillow with burn marks and string “as if it were fashioned as a makeshift silencer,” the report states.
The uncle provided further details to investigators, saying Stephen Bowen asked him to hold a shotgun “for a couple of weeks,” warning that he would need gloves or a bag. When pressed, Bowen allegedly admitted he shot his wife “three times with a shotgun the previous night and then slept downstairs,” according to NBC Miami.
“When asked why (he killed her), Stephen Bowen said that he ‘couldn’t take it anymore,’” the report states.
Authorities tracked Bowen’s pickup truck to an apartment complex in Plantation, where they observed him handing a gun bag to another man, according to WPLG. The man later told police the two were Freemasons meeting to discuss an upcoming gathering and said he was unaware of any crime. As officers moved in, Bowen reportedly said, “Oh s—, they’re here for me,” according to the arrest report.
Bowen was taken into custody around 2:35 p.m. and invoked his right to an attorney, police said. He has since been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence and is being held without bond at the Broward Main Jail, according to WPLG and NBC Miami.
Police Chief Brad Mock described the case as a “domestic violence incident,” according to ABC News.
Metayer Bowen, first elected in 2020, was the first Black and Haitian American woman to serve as a city commissioner in Coral Springs and was re-elected in 2024 before being appointed vice mayor by her colleagues, according to her official biography cited by ABC News. An environmental scientist by training, she previously worked with the Broward County Soil and Water Conservation District, contributing to responses to Hurricanes Irma, Michael and Dorian.
News of her death prompted an outpouring of grief from city leaders and colleagues.
“We are heartbroken to share that Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer has died,” the city said in a statement posted to social media, according to ABC News. “She was more than a public servant, she was a light in our community. Her leadership was grounded in compassion, strength, and an unwavering commitment to others. Her impact on Coral Springs is immeasurable, and her loss leaves a void in our hearts.”
Speaking at a briefing, City Commissioner Joshua Simmons called her a colleague and “battle buddy,” adding, “She had such a good heart. She truly cared about people.”
City Manager Catherine Givens said, “To say today is a very dark day for us in Coral Springs is an understatement. There are no words that can truly capture the depth of this loss.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
Must Read
