A British pub landlady was shot and killed in Trinidad amid a family dispute over her father's fortune and a falling out with customers in her former village.
Elaine McGowan, 65, was shot multiple times on July 5 on a residential street in Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago, according to footage of the incident. Her husband, Ian McGowan, was with her at the time of the attack. The shooter, who emerged from a silver Nissan, fired three shots before fleeing in the vehicle.
Mrs. McGowan, who until last summer was the landlady of The Castle Hotel in Saltwood, Kent, was in the Caribbean to attend to family business. Her sister, Joanne Butcher, stated that the sisters expected to inherit an estate from their late father, George Butcher. However, records suggest their father's will was updated a month before his death in July 2023, leaving the estate to his new partner instead of his daughters.
Mr. Butcher, who had moved to the UK in 1954 with his wife before returning to Trinidad in 1985 to manage his landholdings, was described as a man of considerable means. He owned a significant stretch of Trinidadian coast and had the financial capacity to lend substantial sums and possessed property valued in the hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Tensions in Kent Village
Back in Saltwood, residents recalled Mrs. McGowan and her husband's tenure at The Castle Hotel, which began in August 2019, with a mixture of criticism. Several locals reported being barred from the establishment and described the couple as unpleasant and difficult to be around. The pub, once a community hub, reportedly became largely empty under their management, sustained only by bookings from traveling laborers for its five hotel rooms.
Mrs. McGowan reportedly lost her license to sell alcohol after hosting parties during lockdown, leading to the premises being reregistered under her husband's name. Many staff members and patrons left due to disagreements with the couple, with one former bartender describing Mrs. McGowan as "tricky."
After deciding to leave the pub, the McGowans purchased a campervan and moved into it for their final month in charge of the hotel. They were reportedly planning to return to the campervan after their trip to Trinidad, having intended to secure their father's plantation. However, Mrs. McGowan had privately expressed to friends a premonition that she might be killed, though the specific reasons for this fear remain unclear.
Trinidadian police have not yet made any arrests or commented on the motive behind the shooting and are appealing for public assistance. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has stated they are supporting Mrs. McGowan's family and are in contact with local authorities.