‘Vibrant’ Florida grandma allegedly killed by illegal immigrant outside Publix, family fights for justice
A Venezuelan man allegedly in the United States illegally is in jail after being charged in the death of an elderly Florida woman by backing over her with an SUV in a grocery store parking lot.
On May 17, Deborah Murphy, an 82-year-old grandmother, was walking back to her car on a crosswalk outside a Publix in Panama City Beach when she was struck by a Toyota 4Runner, according to court records.
She was pushed to the ground by the SUV, but the vehicle continued backing up, "running over Ms. Murphy," according to an arrest affidavit submitted by the Florida Highway Patrol.
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Carlos Suarez-Contreras, 26, was the driver of the vehicle, court records show. Luis Sanabria, 29, was the front-seat passenger.
Both were determined to be in the country illegally, according to arrest records.
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Both men told deputies they were born in Venezuela. The two were issued U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers and booked into the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Jail, court records show.
Suarez-Contreras submitted a written plea of not guilty to the charge of driving with a canceled license and causing a death, a third-degree felony. His Georgia license had been canceled, according to arrest records.
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Under Florida law, an illegal immigrant cannot obtain a state-issued driver’s license. However, 19 states and the District of Columbia do issue licenses to "unauthorized residents," according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
At the scene, Sanabria gave sworn testimony to law enforcement that Suarez-Contreras "was operating the vehicle at the time of the crash."
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Before conducting an immigration investigation, the deputy on the scene noted that Suarez-Contreras gave "suspicious" answers to his questions.
Sanabria immediately left the scene on foot before law enforcement arrived, according to arrest records. He "only returned when I had Suarez-Contreras call him," a deputy reported later.
Sanabria was found to have an expired visa, according to the incident report. He was released into the custody of ICE, Jacob Navarro, public affairs specialist for the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, told Fox News Digital.
Suarez-Contreras is being held without bond because of his immigration status and because it is believed that "he is a potential flight risk," Florida Highway Patrol records show.
Just after the incident, Murphy was taken to the hospital and died from injuries related to the crash, according to court documents.
Suarez-Contreras is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 17 at the Bay County Courthouse in Panama City, Florida.
"We’re determined to find justice and see Suarez-Contreras held accountable for his reckless actions," Murphy's twin daughters, Beth Schulz and Amy Edge, told Fox News Digital on a phone call. "She touched so many lives as an amazing friend, teacher, mother and grandmother."
Her family remembers her as "a light" who was "vibrant with so many more memories to be made."
About 16% of fatal traffic crashes in the U.S. involved drivers with invalid licenses in 2024, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That same year, 7,080 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes and more than 71,000 pedestrians were injured.
The state of Florida reported 10,501 pedestrian-related crashes in 2024, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. There were 678 deaths attributed to those incidents. Drivers failing to look behind them when backing a vehicle in a parking lot is listed as one of the most common reasons for pedestrian crashes by NHTSA.
The Georgia Department of Driver Services told Fox News Digital that Suarez-Contreras' license has been canceled. The agency would not say when it was canceled, citing privacy reasons.
The attorney defending Suarez-Contreras told Fox News Digital in an email that his client "didn’t commit any crime regarding the charges he was arrested on."
"It’s simply an unfortunate incident and not criminal in nature," wrote Russell Ramey of Musca Law in Panama City.
One of Murphy’s grandchildren presented the family with a collection of reflections on life from Murphy in her own words, her daughters said.
"My husband and I always felt that the best thing we could do for generations to come would be to leave this world with people who would make a difference," Murphy wrote in one of the reflections shared with Fox News Digital.
"It has been a delight to witness one’s own legacy. I thank my daughters for making our dream come true!!"