Investigators say Matthew Jared Vukmer left North Carolina after Paula Floyd was killed.
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — The search for Matthew Jared Vukmer moved from a Hillsborough-area home to rural Virginia within hours after authorities said longtime housekeeper Paula Tilley Floyd was stabbed to death March 6.
The cross-state arrest quickly ended the manhunt but opened a longer legal process. Vukmer, 53, was charged with first-degree murder in Orange County, held in Virginia as a fugitive, later waived extradition and returned to North Carolina. Prosecutors have since said they will not seek the death penalty in Floyd’s killing.
The first public alert from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office focused on finding Vukmer and the truck he drove away from the home. Deputies had been called to a residence on Running Pine Court, southeast of downtown Hillsborough, where they found Floyd, 54, dead from stab wounds. Investigators said she had worked as Vukmer’s longtime housekeeper. Sheriff’s officials released his name, description and vehicle, saying he had left in a dark Ford Super Duty with a North Carolina license plate. The alert described him as dangerous and said he might still have a knife or another weapon. Residents were told not to approach him.
Investigators developed information that Vukmer could be in western Virginia. By about 5:15 p.m., an Orange County investigator assigned to the U.S. Marshals Carolina Regional Fugitive Task Force, working with the Capital Area Regional Task Force in Grayson County, Virginia, took him into custody. Local reports later said investigators had tracked him to a vacation cabin near Galax that was linked to him. The arrest came roughly five hours after the killing was reported. Sheriff Charles Blackwood said the task force agreement with federal partners helped authorities quickly apprehend the suspect. Vukmer declined to speak with investigators and requested an attorney.
The truck became part of the investigation after the arrest. The sheriff’s office said it would be towed to the Orange County impound lot for processing. Investigators have not publicly detailed what was found in the vehicle, what evidence was recovered from the home, or whether a weapon has been identified in public filings. Those unknowns leave the physical evidence largely outside public view for now. The case is still at an early stage, and many details are expected to move through court rules on discovery rather than through public statements by investigators.
Inside the home, the first account came from Vukmer’s wife, who called 911. She told the dispatcher she had been working at her desk when she heard Floyd fall or heard a commotion. She said her husband had been upstairs, came down after hearing someone and attacked Floyd because he thought she was someone else. She also said Floyd was a friend of theirs. A male voice in the background could be heard saying, “We got Vladimir Putin,” according to reports describing the audio. The wife told the dispatcher Vukmer had gotten into his truck and said she initially believed he might be leaving to get help.
After his arrest in Virginia, Vukmer awaited extradition to North Carolina. The sheriff’s office said at the time that the process could take several weeks. On April 6, he waived extradition in a Grayson County courtroom, clearing the way for his transfer. Once back in Orange County, authorities formally served him with the first-degree murder charge issued March 6. A magistrate ordered him held without bond. The case was then placed in the Orange County court system for further proceedings, including scheduling, evidence exchange and any defense motions. Public reports have not shown a plea or a public defense statement.
The prosecution narrowed April 21 when Orange County District Attorney Jeff Nieman said he would not seek capital punishment. That decision does not change the charge, but it removes the possibility of a death sentence. Prosecutors can still seek a first-degree murder conviction. The decision also means the case will proceed without a capital trial process, which can add separate legal steps tied to jury selection, aggravating factors and sentencing. Floyd’s relatives were reported to have been emotional during early court proceedings, and family members have said they want justice while recognizing the district attorney’s decision.
The arrest and court timeline unfolded alongside public mourning for Floyd. Blackwood said Floyd was a wife and mother and that her death had affected many people. He said former Durham County Sheriff Mike Andrews, who attended church with Floyd, called after the killing and described her as a wonderful person. Floyd’s obituary remembered her as someone who treated friends like family and filled gatherings with energy. It said she loved dance floors, board games and the people in her life. Those memories have become part of the public record around a case that began with a violent emergency call.
Authorities have not publicly identified a motive. The statement in the 911 call that Vukmer may have thought Floyd was someone else remains unexplained in public reports. Investigators also have not publicly said whether they believe mental state, mistaken identity, prior conflict or another factor played a role. The charge is an allegation, and Vukmer is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The next phase is expected to focus on evidence gathered from the home, the truck, witness statements, the 911 recording and any forensic testing completed by investigators.
As of April 28, Vukmer is in Orange County custody, the death penalty is off the table, and the murder case is moving toward future court hearings. Floyd’s family and friends continue to wait for answers about why she was killed.
Author note: Last updated April 28, 2026.