Stephen Bowen is being held without bond at Broward County jail. According to charging documents, he allegedly used a shotgun equipped with a makeshift silencer, made with a pillow and string, to shoot his wife after a contentious fight. Authorities allege that after the killing, he scrolled on his phone, watched TV, and napped on the couch for several hours.
Officers found Nancy Metayer Bowen's body wrapped in blankets with trash bags around her feet. Stephen Bowen told police, friends, and family members that he had killed his wife, according to a police charging affidavit. Stephen Bowen contacted his uncle, Owen Small, in an attempt to hide the shotgun used in the murder, authorities said.
That's f***ed up. I knew he could have a temper, that he was sometimes pretty hot-headed and he collected guns, but you don't think he'd do that to someone he loves. And how can you sleep in the same house with your wife's body? That's the craziest thing I ever heard. It's on another level.
Owen Small dialed 911 approximately four hours after Stephen Bowen showed up at his home, asking police to perform a wellness check at the Bowens' house. More than a dozen officers arrived at the Bowens' house, broke in through the front door, and found Nancy Metayer Bowen's body in an upstairs bedroom. Stephen Bowen was a firearms enthusiast who regularly posted shooting content on social media.
Nancy Metayer Bowen was reportedly planning a run for Congress. According to Daily Mail - News, Randall Bridges described Stephen Bowen as having a temper and being hot-headed, expressing shock at the alleged actions. According to Daily Mail - News, Larry Singer described him as friendly but with a dark side, likening him to a ticking time bomb.
I don't want to be the guy who says he knew this was coming, but I'm not surprised this happened. He was one of the guys who was friendly, outgoing. He made small talk all day. But there was a dark side. He looked like he was ready to lose his s***. He got worked up about things.
The specific cause of the fight remains unclear, and the exact timeline from the altercation to the arrest has not been detailed by officials. It is unknown what evidence beyond the charging documents supports the allegations of premeditation, and Stephen Bowen's legal defense or plea to the charges has not been announced.
He talked about it like it was the worst thing in the world. He ranted and raved about it. He had a rage about him, bubbling under, just like you never knew if and when he was going to snap. There was a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde thing going on. A ticking time bomb. So I'm not completely surprised. I guess the dark side won out.