Man Charged With Murder After Calling 911 to Report Stabbing in South Manatee County

A 39-year-old man is facing a murder charge after deputies say he called 911 to report that he had stabbed his wife inside their home in south Manatee County.

Deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office responded around 5:40 p.m. Thursday to a residence in the 3700 block of 82nd Avenue Circle East. Upon arrival, they located 32-year-old Meaghan Bowler in a bathroom suffering from apparent stab wounds, according to investigators.

First responders immediately began life-saving efforts until fire and EMS personnel arrived. Bowler was transported to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

Authorities said her husband, Jesse Nicholas Jones, was taken into custody at the scene without incident. Detectives with the Manatee Homicide Investigation Unit have charged him with murder.

Two children, both under the age of two, were inside the home at the time of the incident. Investigators reported that the children were not harmed.

The case remains under active investigation.