Court denies appeal in adoptive mother's murder case

The North Carolina Court of Appeals on Tuesday denied the appeal of a Johnston County woman convicted two years ago of killing her adopted son.

Lynn Paddock was convicted in June 2008 of first-degree murder and felony child abuse in the Feb. 26, 2006, death of 4-year-old Sean Paddock.

Authorities said the boy was bound so tightly in blankets that he suffocated.

Defense attorneys argued that the death was accidental and that Paddock's actions were a form of discipline, not abuse.

During the appeal, Paddock's attorney challenged evidence that her other children were abused, saying the claims could have affected the outcome of the trial.