A NSW father is devastated over the death of his daughter, who followed her heart to the United States and now will never return home.

Meaghan Bowler, a 32-year-old woman originally from Terrigal on the Central Coast, was found unresponsive with multiple stab wounds in a bathtub in her Florida home on April 9.

Her husband, 39-year-old Jesse Jones, allegedly called 911 to report he had stabbed his wife and believed she was dead.

 

Bowler was rushed to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Jones has been charged with first-degree murder and remains in custody ahead of a bond hearing on May 22.

The couple’s two young children were found unharmed, Fox 13 News Tampa Bay reported.

Bowler’s father, Tony, told 7NEWS.com.au the couple had met online, with Jones travelling to Australia in December 2022 before they continued their relationship long-distance.

In September 2023, Bowler travelled to the US for what was meant to be a three-month stay — but never returned home.

“She was just a beautiful, ambitious, kind, and trusting girl,” Tony Bowler said.

Meaghan Bowler has been remembered as ‘beautiful, ambitious, kind, and trusting’.Meaghan Bowler has been remembered as ‘beautiful, ambitious, kind, and trusting’. Credit: Tony Bowler

Father’s heartfelt tribute

The 59-year-old father remembered Bowler as someone deeply connected to people, who found joy in helping others.

“She was a girl who generally lit up every room she was in,” he said.

He said she had a rare ability to make others feel seen and valued and was at her happiest when surrounded by people.

He said Bowler was a “real people person” who had worked in sales and real estate in Sydney’s Mosman before moving to the US.

She also worked in event management with the Sydney Swans, where she was highly regarded, and spent time assisting her mother, a tennis coach at Terrigal, during the COVID period.

Bowler was incredibly close to her family and maintained friendships across the world — something her father said reflected the person she was.

“I know I’m her dad and every dad thinks their kids are special, but she truly was a very special girl,” he said.

He described her as kind and generous, recalling how she sponsored children overseas and often went out of her way to help others — including the time she spent an entire morning helping a visually impaired elderly woman she had met on a bus.

Tony Bowler paid tribute to his daughter in a social media post. Tony Bowler paid tribute to his daughter in a social media post. Credit: Instagram

After helping her across the road, she accompanied her through the supermarket, assisted with her shopping and paid for her groceries before ensuring she got home safely.

“That’s just the type of girl she was,” her father said.

“She was an angel.”

The family is hoping to bring Bowler home soon, while continuing to follow developments in the US court case.

Announcing the “worst news a parent can ever face” on social media, Tony Bowler thanked those who had reached out with support.

“She was deeply loved by all of us and brought so much to our lives,” he wrote.

“Losing her has left a hole in our family that can never be filled.

“Rest peacefully my beautiful girl. We love you always.”