Florida Vice Mayor Found Dead; Husband Arrested

Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, 38, was found dead at her home on the morning of April 1, 2026, after city colleagues conducted a wellness check when she failed to appear for scheduled meetings, according to the Coral Springs Police Department. Officers arrived at the residence in the 800 block of Northwest 127th Avenue at approximately 10:04 a.m. and discovered her body in the second-floor master bedroom. The Coral Springs Police Department confirmed in a statement that she was positively identified at the scene.

Police Chief Brad Mock said in a press conference that the incident was determined to be domestic in nature and that there were no additional suspects. According to an arrest affidavit released Thursday, Metayer Bowen’s body had been wrapped in blankets and garbage bags, and a pillow with burn marks consistent with use as a silencer was recovered at the scene.

Husband Charged with Premeditated Murder

Stephen Bowen, 40, was arrested the same afternoon in Plantation, Florida, approximately 12 miles south of Coral Springs, after license plate readers and surveillance data tracked his movements following the killing, according to police. He was booked at Broward County’s Main Jail and faces charges of premeditated murder and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. A judge denied Bowen bond at a first appearance Thursday, citing the severity of the murder charge.

According to the arrest affidavit, a witness told detectives that Bowen came to his home on Wednesday and admitted to shooting his wife three times with a shotgun the night before. The witness also told detectives that Bowen later asked him to hold a bag containing the weapon. Bowen is said to have told investigators he “couldn’t take it anymore” when asked about the killing, according to reporting by WSVN. Bowen has not been convicted of any charge. An attorney for him was not immediately identified in available reporting.

Victim’s Background and Public Role

Metayer Bowen was a first-generation American and environmental scientist by training. She was first elected to the Coral Springs City Commission in 2020, becoming the first Black and Haitian American woman elected to that body, and won re-election unopposed in 2024. She was appointed to serve as vice mayor by her fellow commissioners and was considered one of the more prominent rising figures within the Florida Democratic Party.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, in a statement following Metayer Bowen’s death, described her as a “barrier-breaker” and noted that the two had embraced at the party’s leadership summit just two weeks earlier. U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz said in public statements that Metayer Bowen had been preparing to announce a run for the 20th Congressional District on the day her body was discovered. Her family released a statement describing her as “a source of strength, wisdom and love.”

Investigation Continues

The Coral Springs Police Department said the investigation remains open, with officials continuing to process evidence from the scene and Bowen’s movements in the hours following the alleged shooting. The Broward County court system has not yet listed a future hearing date in available records as of the date of this report. The city of Coral Springs indicated it had created a dedicated webpage to provide updates as the case proceeds.

Coral Springs City Manager Catherine Givens described Metayer Bowen as “the light in every room that she entered” at the April 1 press conference. A candlelit vigil organized by friends was held at Coral Springs City Hall on the evening of April 3. Stephen Bowen remains in custody without bond pending further proceedings.

References: Florida vice mayor found dead in her home; husband charged with murder | Coral Springs leaders and community members continue to gather to mourn Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen