CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — As the city flag flew at half-staff outside Coral Springs City Hall, mourners continued to drop off flowers in honor of Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen.
That included her mentee, Christel Luidor.
“She was always there for everybody, every day,” Luidor said. “Every time I talked to her, it was always, ‘What are we gonna do to help the people?’ She was always a selfless person.”
On Wednesday, relatives rushed over to Metayer Bowen’s Coral Springs home after she failed to show up to several scheduled meetings. The urgency escalated on voices in the 911 call released Friday.
“Tell them to break down the door by whatever means,” a relative is heard saying.
Her lifeless body was found inside of a bedroom, wrapped in a blanket and garbage bags. Detectives believe Stephen Bowen, Metayer Bowen’s husband, used a rifle to shoot his spouse three times on the night before she was discovered and slept downstairs afterwards.
It’s crime Stephen Bowen allegedly admitted to his own uncle.
“My nephew, her husband, came to my house this morning and told me that he did something to her,” Bowen’s uncle is heard saying on the 911 call.
Stephen Bowen is now in jail on premeditated murder and tampering with evidence charges.
Over the years, the 40-year-old has documented his fascination with guns on social media. More recently, his name is tied to a Broward faith-based non-profit called “Men of St. Luke.”
The arrest document lists his place of employment as Delray Medical Center and he holds an active license as a radiology technician.
Metayer Bowen’s loss is drawing people from near and far for a planned candlelight vigil Friday evening on the steps of the place she served diligently.
“We’re doing our best to honor this incredible woman, incredible leader, incredible human being,” Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook said. “She was so committed to so many, including our youth.”
Friday’s vigil, scheduled for 7 p.m., is not a city organized event, but city officials are expected to attend.
Organizers asked the community to bring white candles and to either wear or bring orange all to honor Metayer Bowen’s life.
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