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
‹
Buc-ee's Breaks Ground on New Mebane Travel Center, First in North Carolina
Leaders from across Alamance County, the North Carolina General Assembly, and Buc-ee's representatives gathered to break ground.
Orange County Juneteenth Celebrations to Take Place Across Two Weekends. Here's What to Know
This year's local Juneteenth events are set to take place across various weekends. Here’s how Orange County’s governments are celebrating.
The Morning News: Glenwood Elementary Closing, Orange County Finalizes Budget, UNC Baseball Hosts Super Regional
In today's news: the CHCCS school board votes to shut down Glenwood Elementary after the upcoming school year.
Carrboro Man Arrested, Charged With Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Carrboro man Monday and has charged him with multiple counts of sexual exploitation. 42-year-old Michael Robert Westendorf faces six felony warrants for second-degree and four counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Second-degree exploitation includes duplicating material containing a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual […]
Conversations We Need to Have: Paul Slack on Juneteenth in Orange County
Orange County Chief Civil Rights Officer Paul Slack spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Monday, June 1st. They spoke about the national recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday and an opportunity to celebrate progress. Additionally, they discussed the upcoming Orange County Juneteenth celebrations happening in Hillsborough on June 12th. 
Local Government Meetings: June 1-5, 2026
This week in local government: budget decisions for Orange County, Carrboro, and Durham, and the final vote on a CHCCS school closure.
Facing Pressures In All Directions, Orange County Commissioners Near Budget Decision
Orange County Commissioners are holding a public hearing on next year's budget Thursday, May 28, with major decisions yet to be made.
Orange County: Budget Amendments, Memorial Day, Upcoming Public Hearing
Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Jean Hamilton spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, May 27, discussing county news and events. She discussed the recent movement on the budget, which as seen a flurry of amendments as commissioners and staff try to reconcile some tough budget choices without raising property taxes. She also previewed the upcoming public hearing on the budget, reviewed Memorial Day events in our community, and more.
Rabid Raccoon Reported By Orange County After Altercation With Two Dogs
Orange County Animal Services said Wednesday it confirmed a positive case of rabies in a raccoon found in Chapel Hill. The raccoon was sent for testing by OCAS on Saturday, May 23 after it got into an altercation with two dogs. The condition of the dogs is unknown. It was found by animal control near […]
Gov. Stein Appoints Orange County Residents, Including Sheriff, to Advisory Boards
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein appointed five Orange County community members to the Historic Hillsborough Commission and two other boards.
›