DOTHAN, Ala. — An Ozark man, Michael Tywuan Taylor, 24, has been arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the death of Wesley Blake Bowen, 33, of Dothan, following a suspected robbery that turned deadly and ended with a vehicle submerged in a retention pond Friday morning.
Just before 10 a.m. on January 30, the Dothan Communications Center received multiple 911 calls reporting a vehicle that had crashed into a retention pond in the 2700 block of Ross Clark Circle. First responders rushed to the scene and attempted to check on the individual inside the submerged vehicle. However, upon closer inspection, they determined the occupant was deceased.
Further investigation revealed that the victim had suffered a fatal gunshot wound, shifting the incident from a traffic crash to a homicide investigation. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a Black male flee the area shortly after the crash, prompting Dothan police officers to immediately begin an active search of the surrounding neighborhood.
The victim was later identified as Wesley Blake Bowen, age 33, a resident of Dothan. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
As officers canvassed the area, they located a man on Stonewood Drive behind Farrah Circle who matched witness descriptions and images captured by nearby surveillance footage. That individual was identified as Michael Tywuan Taylor, 24, of Ozark. During the search, investigators recovered a jacket and a handgun near the location where Taylor was found—items believed to be connected to the crime.
According to a preliminary investigation by the Dothan Police Department, Bowen and Taylor were traveling together in Bowen’s vehicle when Taylor allegedly produced a firearm during a suspected robbery. Police say Taylor shot Bowen inside the vehicle, causing Bowen to become incapacitated. As a result, the vehicle lost control and crashed into the retention pond, where Bowen ultimately died.
Taylor has been formally charged with one count of capital murder during a robbery, a charge that carries the most severe penalties under Alabama law. He is currently being held without bond.
Authorities expressed gratitude to community members whose quick action, eyewitness accounts, and shared information played a crucial role in locating and arresting the suspect.
The Dothan Police Department continues to investigate the case and urges anyone with additional information to come forward. Tips can be submitted by contacting:
- Dothan Police Department: 334-615-3632
- Central Alabama CrimeStoppers: 334-215-STOP
- Anonymous tips: P3TIPS.com
As this case moves through the justice system, the Dothan community mourns the loss of Wesley Blake Bowen, while investigators work to ensure accountability and answers for his loved ones.
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