Clackamas County, Oregon — A family vacation to Disneyland that had been eagerly anticipated by an Oregon mother and her two young daughters ended in heartbreak after the woman was allegedly shot and killed by her husband just weeks before they were set to leave.
According to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, 36-year-old Tara Bowen died after a shooting inside the family’s home, while her husband, 35-year-old Markus Bowen, was arrested following the incident.
Family members say Tara had been looking forward to creating special memories with her daughters during the upcoming Disneyland trip and had already begun preparing for the vacation.
Family Says She Couldn’t Wait for the Disneyland Vacation
Tara Bowen’s mother, Lori DeVeny, said her daughter had been counting down the days until the family getaway.
According to DeVeny, Tara had collected gift cards to help pay for expenses during the trip and was especially excited about taking her two daughters, ages 6 and 2, to the California theme park.
“She was very excited,” said Lori DeVeny. “She had gotten lots of gift cards to be able to use at Disneyland.”
The family had planned to leave just a few weeks after the tragic incident, making the loss even more devastating for loved ones.
Husband Reportedly Called 911 After the Shooting
Authorities said the incident unfolded shortly before midnight on June 26, when deputies responded to a home on South Kamrath Road in unincorporated Clackamas County.
According to investigators, Markus Bowen called 911 and told dispatchers that he had shot his wife.
When deputies arrived at the residence, they found Tara Bowen dead inside the home. Officials have not publicly disclosed what led up to the shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Young Children Were Home During the Incident
Police said the couple’s two daughters were inside the home when the shooting occurred.
The children were not reported to have suffered physical injuries, but family members described the emotional impact as overwhelming.
“They came to their house and asked to come up and get the kids,” DeVeny said. “I think there’s nothing she loved more than her kids.”
A GoFundMe campaign created by Tara’s sister says the mother worked tirelessly to provide a better life for her children, who are now expected to remain in the full-time care of their grandmother.
Family Struggles to Understand the Tragedy
Loved ones said there were no warning signs that such violence would occur.
Although DeVeny acknowledged that the couple experienced disagreements like many families do, she said nothing suggested the situation would end in tragedy.
“They fight like everybody else does but nothing that would indicate this would happen,” DeVeny said. “We’re so blown out of the water.”
Court records show Markus Bowen was booked into the Clackamas County Jail on one count of first-degree manslaughter. Jail records indicate he was being held on $500,000 bail and remained in custody as of July 2.
As investigators continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Tara Bowen’s family is focused on caring for her two young daughters and honoring the life of a mother they say devoted herself to her children.
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