ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A 58-year-old Rowan County woman is facing an attempted first-degree murder charge after investigators say she admitted to attacking her husband while he slept and told detectives she planned to kill him before setting their home on fire and taking her own life.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded at approximately 2:52 a.m. Tuesday, June 30, to the intersection of Godbey Road and Woodleaf Road to assist EMS.
When deputies arrived, they found Jerry Marlow receiving treatment for a severe laceration to his neck that extended to his shoulder. According to investigators, Paula Marlow told deputies her husband woke her, said he needed to go to the hospital because he was bleeding, and she was driving him for medical treatment.
Deputies requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, which responded to the couple’s residence at 880 Needmore Road to investigate.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators interviewed Paula Marlow, who allegedly confessed to assaulting her husband while he was asleep.
Investigators said Marlow told them she intended to kill her husband, set the residence on fire, and then take her own life because of what she described as financial difficulties. Authorities said she reported abandoning the plan after becoming frightened during the assault and leaving the bedroom before carrying out the remaining acts she had described.
Jerry Marlow suffered serious injuries but survived the attack. The sheriff’s office said he remains hospitalized, is expected to recover, and his family has been notified of the investigation.
Paula Marlow was arrested without incident following the interview and charged with attempted first-degree murder.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said additional charges may be filed.
