NC man sentenced for 2023 murder of mother

KERNERSVILLE, N.C. (WGHP) — A man has been sentenced to decades in prison after murdering his mother in 2023.

According to the Forsyth County District Attorney’s Office, Donald Ryan Fink pleaded guilty to killing his mother, Debra, on Tuesday.

Debra Fink was shot and killed on June 12, 2023. Kernersville Police Department responded to a home after being told about a shooting and a possible break-in. They found Debra Fink, who had been shot in the face, and her son. Donald Fink told officers someone had broken in and shot his mother.

She died at the scene. Officers located the murder weapon on the floor and, after investigating, learned that Debra Fink had reported the handgun had been stolen three months prior to her death. The doorframe of the front door was also damaged.

Witnesses told officers that Donald Fink had been seen with the gun that day and had pointed it at a woman. No witnesses reported seeing anyone entering or exiting the home around the time of the shooting, and the DA’s office says Donald Fink made “multiple inconsistent statements” to police.

Days later, Donald Fink told KPD that he had lied and manipulated the crime scene, kicking the door in and falsely telling 911 there had been a break-in. He claimed that the shooting was accidental, but that was “inconsistent with the physical evidence.”

Debbie Fink had been recovering from knee surgery at the time and could not move without assistance, and witnesses told officers that she was afraid of her son and that he had previously threatened to shoot her.

Her sisters were present in court and expressed their gratitude towards law enforcement and prosecutors, and said they were relieved that the case was over.

Donald Fink was sentenced to between 28 years, 9 months and 35 years and 6 months in prison for second-degree murder.