The spouse of an Australian woman residing on the New South Wales Central Coast has been charged with her murder in Florida, USA.
Meaghan Bowler, aged 32, was discovered with stab wounds in the bathtub of her residence. Despite being transported to a hospital, she could not be revived.
The family of Ms. Bowler is currently receiving support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as they prepare for a pre-trial hearing involving Jesse Jones.
Ms. Bowler, a former tennis coach from Terrigal, was reportedly killed by her husband, Jesse Jones, at their home in Florida on Thursday.
As per court filings, the 39-year-old dialed 911 to report that he had fatally stabbed his wife. He was still on the line when deputies arrived at the scene.
Upon answering the door, Mr. Jones directed law enforcement to the bathroom on the second floor, where Ms. Bowler was found “unconscious and unresponsive in the bathtub with multiple stab wounds,” according to an affidavit from the Manatee County Court Clerk.
Emergency Medical Services arrived promptly and were able to detect a faint pulse after 20 minutes of resuscitation efforts. Unfortunately, she passed away shortly after arriving at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
The affidavit details Mr. Jones’s account, indicating that he stabbed Ms. Bowler multiple times during a dispute in the kitchen.
Mr. Jones has entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder and is currently in custody, with a pre-trial detention hearing set for tonight at the Manatee County Judicial Centre, according to Australian time.
At the time of the incident, the couple’s two young children were present in the home.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is extending consular support to Ms. Bowler’s family in Australia.
A spokesperson for DFAT expressed their condolences, stating, “We send our deepest sympathies to the family during this challenging period.”
The Bowler family is hopeful of bringing her remains back home soon and has shared their sorrow on social media, saying, “She was deeply loved by all of us and brought so much to our lives.” They added, “Losing her has left a void in our family that can never be filled.”
