Matthew Phelps, a 28-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, was charged with one count of murder. He is held at the Wake County jail without bail. [Courtesy of Raleigh Police Department]
Raleigh, North Carolina - A 28-year-old man took an extra-large dose of cough medicine to help him sleep better and went to sleep next to his wife of 10 months last Friday. He had a dream of killing his wife that made him wake up. When he turned on the bedroom lights, he found his wife lying on the floor in her own pool of blood with multiple stab wounds.
The husband, identified as Matthew Phelps from Raleigh, North Carolina, grabbed a phone and called 911.
In the recorded 911 call that was released by the authorities, Phelps reported himself, "I think I killed my..." and didn't finish his sentence.
The dispatcher asked, "What do you mean by that? What happened?" Phelps explained in a shaky voice, "I had a dream and then I turned on the lights and she's dead on the floor."
The alarmed operator asked, "How? How? How?" Phelps went on: "There's blood all over me, and there's a bloody knife on the bed and I think I did it. I can't believe this."
Disoriented and shaken, Phelps said, "I can see her. She's not breathing. Oh, my God." The dispatcher asked him to check his wife and Phelps said he was "scared to get too close to her."
Phelps explained that he took medicine before going to bed and dispatcher asked: "What medicine did you take?"
Phelps who confessed he "took more medicine than [he] should have" and answered: "I took Coricidin. I know it can make you feel good. So a lot of times I can't sleep at night." Distressed Phelps started sobbing and said, "She's not moving. Oh, my God. She didn't deserve this."
The medicine Phelps said he took is Coricidin Cough and Cold that contains antihistamine Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide. The medicine is known to cause drowsiness but did not have any other known serious side effects.
Coricidin manufacturer, Bayer, spokesperson said in a statement, "Bayer extends our deepest sympathies to this family. Patient safety is our top priority, and we continually monitor adverse events regarding all of our products. There is no evidence to suggest that Coricidin is associated with violent behavior."
Lauren Ashley-Nicole Hugelmaier, a 29-year-old from Raleigh, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in her residence. She was hoping to have kids with her husband Phelps and become a housewife. [Courtesy of Lauren Hugelmaier / Facebook]
Around 1:15 a.m. on Friday, the authorities arrived at Phelps' residence and they found Phelps and his wife, Lauren Ashley-Nicole Phelps, covered with blood. She was transferred to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. She was only 29 years old.
Matthew Phelps and his wife Lauren Hugelmaier wed 10 months ago in the very same church, where Lauren's funeral was held at on Monday. The mourners wondered what happened to the once happy couple. [Courtesy of Lauren Hugelmaier]
A funeral for the wife was held on Monday at Hope Lutheran Church where the couple wed 10 months ago. The obituary published by the local newspaper identified her as her maiden name, Lauren Hugelmaier, instead of using her husband's last name. Hugelmaier's friends and family gathered at the memorial service mourning her untimely death.
The authorities were convinced that the homicide was intentional and charged Phelps with murder. Phelps appeared in court on Tuesday, visibly distressed. He was told by a Wake County judge that if he is convicted, he may possibly face the death penalty. Phelps was represented by Joe Cheshire, a distinguished attorney in the county.
Phelps' next court appearance is scheduled on September 25. Phelps is currently being held in Wake County jail without bail.
Matthew Phelps worked at a landscaping company and studied to become a pastor at the Clear Creek Baptist Bible College. Lauren Hugelmaier worked at a fragrance company and volunteered at the church she was attending as a Sunday school teacher.
Kwak, Min Jung = abiel@ajunews.com
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