The city of Coral Springs, Fla., celebrated the historic election of its first Black and Haitian American female commissioner, Nancy Metayer Bowen, in 2020. Now, they’re forced to mourn her after the politician was found dead inside her own home. While the investigation surrounding the suspicious circumstances of her death is still underway, police have charged one suspect with premeditated murder.
Suggested Reading
Local police were called to Metayer Bowen’s residence on the morning of Wednesday (April 1) for a wellness check, according to ABC News. When they arrived, they found the appointed vice mayor dead. Authorities have since arrested her husband, 40-year-old Stephen Bowen, and booked him on murder and evidence tampering charges.
The Bowens had been married since 2022, just two years after the politician was elected as the first ever Black and Haitian American female city commissioner, according to her city bio. In 2024, she was reelected to the position and later appointed to serve as vice mayor. Metayer Bowen also a graduate from Florida A&M University. She went on the get her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in health science.
“We are heartbroken to share that Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer has died,” the city of Coral Springs wrote in a statement. “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.”
While police have yet to release any other details about Metayer Bowen’s death, journalist Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics confirmed on X that the Democrat was shot to death. Police Chief Brad Mock announced that no other suspects have been identified and that there was no further threat to the public, the Sun Sentinel reported.
City Manager Catherine Givens spoke during the Wednesday news conference to pay respects to the colleague she said many also considered a friend. “What’s worse is the tremendous grief that her family must endure. If you knew Nancy, her family was everything,” Gibbons said. “She wasn’t just a leader; she was the light in every room that she entered. She was a steady voice in difficult times, a compassionate soul who lifted others up and a friend to so many.”
Police are investigating her killing as a domestic violence situation, but this isn’t the first tragedy that has touched Metayer Bowen’s family. Back in December, her younger brother, Donovan Joshua Leigh Metayer, died by suicide at age 26. He was a high school senior when an gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. in 2018. According to a GoFundMe in his honor, Donovan struggled with his mental health following the shooting.
Rep. Anna V. Eskamani took to X to share her condolences with the Metayer family. “Nancy and I worked side by side in the reproductive rights movement for years, and I’ve been honored to call her not just a colleague, but a dear friend. She was brilliant, compassionate, and deeply committed to justice. I’m heartbroken by this loss,” she said. “Sending my love to her family who has already experienced deep loss with the passing of her brother.”
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.