REMEMBER Nancy
Nancy Metayer Bowen
38 YEARS OLD ·
Coral Springs,
Florida
Nancy Metayer Bowen was a 38-year-old environmental scientist, public servant, community advocate, sister, daughter, and friend whose work centered on environmental justice, resilience, equity, and public service. She made history as the first Black and Haitian American woman elected to the Coral Springs City Commission and was serving as vice mayor at the time of her death. Family and friends remembered Nancy for her warmth, laughter, compassion, and ability to make others feel seen and valued.
Nancy dedicated much of her life to public service and environmental advocacy. A graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Johns Hopkins University, she worked as an environmental scientist on water quality, public health, disaster response, environmental justice, and community resilience before entering elected office. She was elected to the Coral Springs City Commission in 2020, becoming the first Black and Haitian American woman to serve on the commission, and was reelected in 2024. She later served as vice mayor.
Nancy’s impact extended beyond elected office through environmental and community organizations and mentorship. Hundreds of people gathered at Coral Springs City Hall following her death to honor her life. Friends described her ability to bring people together and recalled her commitment to lifting others up. Her family remembered her as a source of strength, wisdom, and love whose warmth and laughter filled a room.
Following her death, family and friends established the Nancy Metayer Endowment for Justice, Equality and Resilience to continue the values that shaped her life and work.
THE RECORD
Nancy was fatally shot at her Coral Springs home on March 31, 2026, and was discovered the following morning after she failed to attend a city meeting and colleagues requested a welfare check. Her husband, Stephen Bowen, was taken into custody and subsequently charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. According to the arrest affidavit, investigators alleged that Nancy was shot with a shotgun and that Bowen subsequently attempted to dispose of the firearm. Police characterized the case as a domestic violence incident.
RELATIONSHIP CONTEXT
Husband
Nancy and Stephen Bowen were married. Available reporting identifies Stephen as Nancy’s husband and describes the homicide as occurring within their shared home. The sources reviewed here do not establish a documented history of IPV between the couple before Nancy’s death.
PATTERNS DOCUMENTED IN AVAILABLE RECORDS
These indicators reflect what could be established from available sources. Absence from this list does not establish that a behavior did not occur.
LEGAL / SYSTEM RESPONSE
Following the discovery of Nancy’s body, Coral Springs Police investigated her death and took Stephen Bowen into custody. A grand jury indicted Bowen on April 22, 2026. The indictment charged him with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence, specifically involving the firearm and a cellphone. Bowen entered a written plea of not guilty.
SOURCES
INFORMATION LIMITATIONS
Fields marked UNKNOWN were not established by the available coded record and do not mean the behavior did not occur.
TRANSPARENCY / RECORD NOTE
Stephen Bowen has been formally charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence in Nancy’s death and has pleaded not guilty. Because the criminal case remains pending, allegations concerning the circumstances of the homicide should remain attributed to investigators, arrest records, and prosecutors rather than presented as adjudicated findings.
REMEMBER Nancy.
Every statistic had a name. Every name had a life.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services. Quick Exit leaves the current page but does not erase browser history.
REMEMBER • RECOGNIZE • BREAK