ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A Rowan County woman has been arrested on charges of attempted first-degree murder after allegedly slashing her husband’s throat Tuesday morning at their rural home on Needmore Road, north of Woodleaf, deputies said. Paula Marlowe reportedly confessed to the crime, citing financial difficulties as a motive.
The couple owns Marlow’s BBQ and Seafood on Statesville Boulevard in Salisbury.
Deputies said they first got to the scene at Godbey and Woodleaf roads while Paula Marlowe was taking her husband, Jerry Marlowe, to a hospital. He had a cut from his neck to his shoulder.
Paula Marlowe told deputies that her husband woke her up, was bleeding, and said he needed to go to the hospital.
The wife later confessed to doing it, saying she intended to kill her husband, set the residence on fire, and then take her own life due to alleged financial difficulties.
Investigators determined the plan was interrupted when she got scared during the assault.
“The concerning part for us was that the wife and the husband were both reporting they didn’t know what happened, so it was concerning for law enforcement, because we thought it may be a home invasion where an assault occurred,” said Lt. Ryan Barkley, Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. “But when we arrived and we executed the search warrant at the house, we realized that there was a weapon located in the backyard that had ties to the inside of the house.”
“Wow, I can’t believe that,” neighbor Brittany Wilson said. “And it’s right here at our house, too. They’re always outside. They seem so sweet.”
Paula Marlowe has been charged with attempted first-degree murder.
No additional details have been made available.