Dothan woke up Friday morning to a heavy silence after 33-year-old Wesley Blake Bowen was found dead inside a truck near the DoubleTree Hotel. The discovery was made early January 30, 2026, and word spread quickly through the city, leaving many stunned and searching for answers.
Police say Bowen’s vehicle was located partially submerged in a small ditch along Ross Clark Circle, close to the CarMax sign. The truck sat at an odd angle, drawing attention from passersby before authorities arrived and secured the scene.
Emergency responders and officers with the Dothan Police Department worked carefully around the area as the vehicle was removed. Traffic slowed nearby as investigators began piecing together what happened in the hours before Bowen was found.
Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd later confirmed Bowen’s identity and said his family had been notified. Bowen’s body is being sent to Montgomery, where further examination will be carried out to determine the official cause of death.
Investigators have detained one person of interest in the case, though police stress that no charges have been filed so far. Officers also briefly questioned two individuals near a Bojangles restaurant and another person on Stonewood Drive as part of the ongoing inquiry.
For those who knew him, Bowen’s death feels unreal. A longtime Dothan resident, he leaves behind family and friends now facing an abrupt and painful loss. Messages of sympathy and quiet support have begun circulating across the community.
Police say the investigation is active and far from over. Anyone with information that could help clarify what happened is urged to contact the Dothan Police Department as authorities work to bring clarity to a case that has shaken the city.
