A prominent Florida leader who was reportedly on the verge of announcing a campaign for U.S. Congress has been found dead in her home, leading to the arrest of her husband.
Local authorities discovered the body of Nancy Metayer Bowen, the vice mayor and city commissioner of Coral Springs, during a routine wellness check on Wednesday morning.
Coral Springs police swiftly took her husband, Stephen Bowen, into custody. Law enforcement officials confirmed they are investigating the tragedy as a domestic violence incident and are not seeking any additional suspects in connection with her death.
The devastating news arrived just one day before Bowen was expected to make a major political leap. According to Florida Representative Jared Moskowitz and local news outlets, the vice mayor was slated to officially announce her congressional candidacy on Thursday.
Sources indicate she planned to enter the Democratic primary to challenge the seat currently occupied by Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. Cherfilus-McCormick recently faced a high-profile indictment over allegations of funneling millions in disaster relief funds into her own campaign.
Bowen leaves behind a trailblazing legacy in local government. In 2020, she made history as the first Black and Haitian American woman elected as a Coral Springs commissioner. After securing reelection in 2024, she was appointed to her second stint as the city's vice mayor in November 2025.