The husband of Coral Springs, Florida, Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen has been arrested on a premeditated murder charge in connection with her death, according to court records.
Officers found Metayer Bowen dead inside her Coral Springs residence while conducting a well-being check on the morning of Wednesday, April 1, according to Coral Springs Police Chief Brad Mock, the Miami Herald reported.
Her husband, Stephen Bowen, was arrested afterward that same day, authorities said, the newspaper reported.
“On behalf of our entire family, we are deeply saddened to share the passing of my beloved sister Nancy Metayer-Bowen,” her family said in a statement shared to Metayer Bowen’s Facebook page on April 1. “She was not only a cherished member of our family, but also a dedicated public servant who committed her life to improving the lives of others.”
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Bowen, 40, is accused of fatally shooting Metayer Bowen, 38, in what authorities believe was a domestic violence-related attack, Coral Springs police confirmed to Florida Politics.
In addition to premeditated murder, Bowen is also charged with tampering with evidence, court records viewed by Us Weekly show.
An attorney was not listed for Bowen the morning of Thursday, April 2.
In an April 1 statement shared to Facebook, Coral Springs Police wrote “We are heartbroken to share that Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer has died.”
“She was more than a public servant, she was a light in our community,” the statement said. “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.”
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Metayer Bowen also served as the Commissioner of Coral Springs, according to the city’s website. She became the first Black and Haitian American woman elected to the position in 2020. In 2024, she was re-elected.
Mayer Bowen’s second, one-year term as Coral Springs vice mayor began in November 2025, the website says.
In reaction to Metayer-Bowen’s murder, Florida Congressman Jared Moskowitz shared on X that Metayer-Bowen had plans to run for higher office.
“I’m in shock,” Moskowitz wrote on X. “I was just with her on Saturday. She just buried her brother. She was about to announce she was running for Congress. Nancy was one of the nicest people I worked with. Always fighting for her community, always pushing to help. She had such a future. This is terrible.”
On April 2, a judge ordered for Bowen to be held without bond during a hearing, NBC Miami reported.
