Tara Bowen, a 36-year-old mother of two young girls, was shot and killed inside her Clackamas County home late Friday evening by her husband, Markus Bowen, who then called 911 to report the shooting, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
Background
The couple lived with their two children—a 6-year-old and a 2-year-old—in unincorporated Clackamas County. The family had been planning a trip to Disneyland together in just a few weeks, said Lori DeVeny, Tara Bowen's mother, who spoke with local outlets KPTV and KOIN.
"She was very excited," DeVeny told KPTV. "She had gotten lots of gift cards to be able to use at Disneyland."
Tara Bowen had been saving for the trip and preparing for what was supposed to be a joyful family vacation with her two daughters. According to her Facebook page, she and Markus Bowen got married in 2022 after celebrating 10 years together in March 2019.
"They fight like everybody else does but nothing that would indicate this would happen," DeVeny told KOIN. "We're so blown out of the water."
When sheriff's deputies arrived at their home on South Kamrath Road shortly before midnight, they found Tara Bowen dead inside. The couple's children were reportedly home at the time of the shooting.
"I think there's nothing she loved more than her kids," DeVeny said.
The Investigation
Markus Bowen, 35, was arrested and booked into the Clackamas County Jail on Saturday, June 27—one day after the shooting. He is charged with one count of first-degree manslaughter in connection with his wife's death.
According to the CCSO press release, Markus Bowen himself called 911 from their home and reported that he had shot his wife. When officers responded to the residence in the 22000 block of South Kamrath Road, they located Tara Bowen deceased inside.
"They [police] came to their house and asked to come up and get the kids," DeVeny told KOIN, describing how authorities handled the scene with their children present.
Jail records indicate Markus Bowen was being held on $500,000 bail. He remained in custody as of Thursday, July 2—five days after his arrest.
A GoFundMe launched by Tara Bowen's sister describes her as someone who "worked tirelessly to provide a good life for her kids," who will now be under the "full-time care of their grandmother."
"[Markus Bowen] has to live with it," DeVeny told KPTV. "It's so unfair."
Key Takeaways
- Tara Bowen, 36, was shot and killed by her husband Markus Bowen at their home in Clackamas County on June 26
- The couple had two children ages 6 and 2 who were reportedly home when the shooting occurred
- The family was planning a Disneyland trip together scheduled for just weeks away
- Markus Bowen called 911 to report he had shot his wife before being arrested
- He has been charged with first-degree manslaughter and is being held on $500,000 bail
- Tara Bowen's mother described her daughter as someone who "loved" her children most of all
What's Next
Markus Bowen awaits further court proceedings in Clackamas County Circuit Court. The investigation into what led to the shooting remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to piece together events that preceded Tara Bowen's death.
The case marks a devastating loss for Tara Bowen's family, who say they are struggling to comprehend how such violence could occur in what DeVeny described as an otherwise ordinary relationship.