Matthew Vukmer, 53, of North Carolina, is accused of stabbing his housekeeper, Paula Floyd, 54, to death while his wife was at home, then fleeing across state lines in a truck. He has been charged with first‑degree murder in Orange County, North Carolina, and has waived extradition from Virginia, where he was captured.
What happened at the home
On the morning of March 6, Floyd was working as a housekeeper at Vukmer’s home in the Wyngate community outside Hillsborough, about 35 miles northwest of Raleigh. Vukmer’s wife was in the house at her desk when she heard Floyd fall and saw that she had been stabbed.
In a 911 call, the wife said her husband was upstairs, came down, and then attacked the cleaning lady, apparently mistaking her for someone else. At one point in the background, Vukmer reportedly said something about “Vladimir Putin,” though the exact meaning of the comment has not been clarified. She told the dispatcher she saw her husband get into his truck and drive away, initially believing he was looking for help—but instead he headed toward the North Carolina–Virginia state line.
Capture and charges
Orange County deputies quickly obtained a murder warrant and began searching for Vukmer in a dark Ford Super Duty truck. With help from his wife, they believed he might have gone to western Virginia. Around 5:15 p.m., authorities arrested him in Grayson County, Virginia, roughly 145 miles from his home.
Vukmer declined to speak with investigators and requested an attorney after being taken into custody. He is now scheduled to be brought back to North Carolina to face the first‑degree murder charge.
Who Paula Floyd was
Paula Floyd, described in her obituary as a lifelong, caring community member, was remembered as someone who “made others feel welcome, valued, and loved,” with “family” extending to anyone who crossed her path. She worked as a self‑employed housekeeper, but those who knew her said her real calling was caring for people. Floyd is survived by her husband and two sons.
