Supporters Launch Endowment for Slain Coral Springs Vice Mayor

Four months after burying her younger brother, Nancy Metayer Bowen's family is mourning her.

Supporters of the slain Coral Springs vice mayor announced the Nancy Metayer Endowment this week, a fund intended to provide financial stability to her immediate family and preserve the legacy of a woman widely regarded as one of the most promising young leaders in South Florida politics.

Metayer Bowen, 38, was found dead in her home on April 1 after city staff raised concerns when she failed to attend scheduled meetings and could not be reached, according to Coral Springs Police. Officers conducting a wellness check discovered her body in what investigators described as an apparent domestic violence incident. Her husband, Stephen Bowen, was later taken into custody and faces charges of premeditated murder and tampering with evidence.

The killing sent shockwaves across Florida's political landscape. While Coral Springs sits in Broward County, Metayer Bowen's work on environmental and public health policy extended statewide, including initiatives touching sustainability, housing and civic engagement — issues central to communities across the Treasure Coast, where affordable housing shortages and environmental protection of the Indian River Lagoon remain persistent concerns. She served on local and state boards focused on those priorities.

An environmental scientist by training, Metayer Bowen was elected to the Coral Springs Commission in 2020, becoming the first Black and Haitian American woman to serve on the panel, according to public records. She won re-election without opposition in 2024 and was appointed vice mayor later that year. She was also active in Democratic politics, holding leadership roles in Haitian American voter outreach and participating in presidential campaign efforts.

The tragedy compounded an already devastating stretch for her family. In December, Metayer Bowen's 26-year-old brother, Donovan, died by suicide after a years-long battle with schizophrenia. He was a survivor of the Feb. 14, 2018, mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

"In a moment defined by profound grief, this support is essential to ensuring the family has the space, stability, and care they need," organizers said in a statement announcing the endowment. Contributors are encouraged "to carry forward her legacy by leading with compassion, creating space for others, and building communities rooted in inclusion and care."

Colleagues and community leaders across the state have remembered Metayer Bowen as a compassionate public servant and dedicated advocate.

Stephen Bowen remains in custody. No trial date has been publicly scheduled.

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