An Orange County woman pled guilty to second-degree murder Wednesday after shooting her mother in the head in December of 2022.

Paula Lee Decoteau, who was 51 at the time of the shooting, killed her 75-year-old mother Cheryl Garner Medlin in an incident at Medlin’s residence on Spruce Pine Trail, near the border of Orange and Durham counties. Decoteau now faces a minimum sentence of 15-and-a-half years, with the maximum being life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Though Decoteau was initially charged with first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree kidnapping, two misdemeanor counts of assaulting a government official or employee and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, most of those charges were dropped in the plea deal. The first-degree murder charge was downgraded to second-degree murder after testimony revealed Decoteau had been heavily drinking at a bar with friends and possibly ingesting cocaine and methamphetamine before the incident at Medlin’s house. The charge of assault with a deadly weapon and one of the charges of assault on a government official were dropped in 2023.

Previous testimony also revealed that on the night of the shooting, an argument between Decoteau and Medlin began after Decoteau blamed her mother for the death of Decoteau’s husband. Two witnesses reported hearing a single gunshot. After attempting to call 911, the witnesses testified Decoteau temporarily took their phones. Eventually, the pair were able to get their phones back and called 911; Medlin, however, died after being taken to the hospital.

The News & Observer reported multiple relatives of Medlin were in attendance for Wednesday’s hearing in Orange County Superior Court, including Medlin’s niece. Decoteau’s attorney claimed her client couldn’t remember the night of the incident beyond drinking at the bar.

 

Featured image via Chapel Hill Media Group

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Orange County Commissioners Pass 1-Year Moratorium on Constructing Large-Scale Data Centers
Orange County recently approved a one-year moratorium on the construction of large-scale data centers. The commissioners unanimously passed the ordinance at an April 21 meeting, which will prohibit the county from approving any development proposals for the construction or expansion of any large-scale data center, including artificial intelligence data centers, cryptocurrency mining facilities, data centers, […]
Orange County Reports Rabies Incident Involving Raccoon in Hillsborough
Orange County Animal Services has confirmed a positive rabies test from an incident involving a raccoon last week. OCAS says it received a report about a dog having an altercation with an aggressive raccoon near Cates Hickory Hill Lane – southwest of downtown Hillsborough – on April 24. Animal Control responded and retrieved the raccoon […]
Orange County: Morinaga Expansion, Data Center Moratorium, Earth Day
Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Jean Hamilton spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, April 22. She discussed attendance at the ribbon cutting for Morinaga's Hi-Chew facility expansion, and what the continued development of that area means for the county. She also recapped the recent meeting of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, which saw a public hearing and vote on a moratorium on construction of large data-mining centers in Orange County. She also discussed county Earth Day activities at Blackwood Farm Park, and more.
Morinaga Celebrates Completed Mebane Expansion and 'Sweet Partnership' With North Carolina, Orange County
The Japanese candy company Morinaga held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday to celebrate the opening of its expansion Hi-Chew plant in Mebane.
Orange County Clerk of Court Mark Kleinschmidt Wins State, National Honors
Orange County Clerk of Superior Court Mark Kleinschmidt has been recognized with two awards – one statewide and one national – in recognition of his service. Kleinschmidt received the North Carolina Guardianship Association’s Trailblazer Award last week in Asheville, recognizing his two terms as Clerk of Superior Court and Probate Judge. In legal terms, guardianship […]
Orange County Woman Wins Lottery Jackpot of More Than $200,000
Dorothy Chester of Cedar Grove won a $212,371 jackpot off a $1 lottery ticket earlier this month, the North Carolina Education Lottery said in a release Wednesday. Chester played the online version of the lottery’s Cash 5 game. The odds of matching all five numbers winning the jackpot in this game are 1 in 962,598. […]
On Air Today: Aria Allen of Economics With Aria
Aria Allen of Economics With Aria spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Monday, April 13, discussing the most recent episode of her show. On this episode she tackles affordable housing in our community. She discusses what's covered in the episode, the process of putting it together, what comes next for the series, and more.
Orange County Sheriff: Paula Floyd Murder Suspect in Local Custody After Extradition to N.C.
UPDATE: The Orange County Sheriff's Office shared an alert on the morning of Apr. 10 saying Matthew Vukmer was now in its office's custody.
Jonathon Smith on Orange County's 2026 Food System Assessment — On Air Today (Apr. 1, 2026)
Jonathon Smith — the executive director and food security agent for Orange County's Cooperative Extension — speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell
UNC Club Brings Solar Energy to TABLE, Saving the Pantry Money and Expanding Food Access
While not visible to those passing by, something new decorates the rooftop of TABLE’s downtown Carrboro facility.
›