A man has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally shooting his girlfriend at a Pennsylvania hotel, where she was discovered dead after the pair tried to work on their relationship, according to prosecutors.
Orenthia Upshur, of Trenton, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges on Monday, October 26, in the death of Maisha Coon, his girlfriend of roughly three decades, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
Following his guilty plea, a Pennsylvania judge sentenced Upshur, 52, to life without the possibility of parole.
According to prosecutors, Upshur killed Coon inside a Bensalem hotel room on January 15, 2025. They went to the hotel to “address ongoing relationship issues” and an argument allegedly ensued.
Coon, also from Trenton, was 49 years old.
Her two daughters wrote in victim impact statements read during Upshur’s sentencing that their mother was a “hardworking woman” who regularly worked two jobs to provide for her loved ones, according to the district attorney’s office.
“The home feels haunted by her absence,” one of her daughters wrote.
Following the fatal shooting, Upshur’s family member reported to Pennsylvania State Police that he had admitted to shooting Coon at the Sleep Inn & Suites in Bensalem, according to prosecutors. She was then found dead inside her hotel room with several gunshot wounds.
Upshur had driven to the family member’s home and made the confession, per the Philadelphia Inquirer.
He then allegedly drove to New Jersey and opened fire on Coon’s oldest daughter, Quadira Peterson, while she was getting into an Uber in Trenton, the newspaper reported.
Officers responded to the gunfire, leading to a standoff with Upshur, who had fled into a nearby home, according to prosecutors. He was ultimately apprehended.
The district attorney’s office said Upshur admitted to killing Coon in a four-hour interview with police.
According to investigators, Upshur told Coon, “It’s all going to end tonight,” after she begged for her life.
Upshur and Coon’s relatives expressed in court that their families were close-knit during the pair’s 30-year relationship, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Coon’s murder, however, fractured their families.
In court, Upshur reportedly told the judge he wanted to take accountability for Coon’s death and indicated his regret.
“As a man, I’m supposed to protect women,” he said. “So to be here, under the circumstances, is shameful.”
In a statement, the Bensalem Police Director of Public Safety, William McVey, said, “We are happy that Upshur will not be able to hurt anyone else and our thoughts remain with Maisha’s family and loved ones. We hope this outcome brings them some measure of peace.”
