Stephen Curtis Gowan, aged 39, tragically passed away on March 6, 2012, in Midland, Texas. Gowan, who worked in the oilfield industry, was born on August 20, 1972, in Levelland, Texas. His death was the result of a violent incident that occurred late on the night of March 5, 2012. According to reports, Gowan was found with a gunshot wound to his head in a vehicle near the intersection of Nobles Avenue and Pecos Street. He was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The investigation into Gowan's death revealed that he and a passenger, Joe Martin, were set to meet an unidentified male on Nobles Avenue. During this meeting, a confrontation occurred, and Gowan was shot in the head. The suspect, later identified as Jeremiah Aaron Brown, was arrested shortly after the incident. Brown, who was 20 years old at the time, was initially charged with aggravated assault, but the charges were later upgraded to first-degree murder.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Gowan had arranged the meeting with Brown through his cell phone. Brown admitted to the shooting during a videotaped interview with detectives and cooperated with the investigation by leading them to the location where he had hidden the murder weapon, a .38-caliber Smith and Wesson revolver. Brown was also found to have an outstanding warrant for a second-degree felony of burglary of a habitation.
In July 2012, Brown pleaded guilty to the murder of Stephen Gowan and was sentenced to 28 years in prison. He also received an additional 18-year sentence for burglary, with both sentences to run concurrently. The plea deal was accepted by the court, and Brown's cooperation with the investigation was noted during the sentencing. The tragic death of Stephen Gowan and the subsequent legal proceedings brought some closure to the case, but the loss of Gowan was deeply felt by his family and the Midland community.
