Carlos Suarez-Contreras faces third-degree felony charges after allegedly killing 82-year-old Deborah Murphy in a Florida grocery store parking lot.
Carlos Suarez-Contreras, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national, is in jail after allegedly backing his SUV into Deborah Murphy, who was killed in a Panama City Beach parking lot. The 82-year-old woman was struck while walking across a crosswalk outside a Publix store on May 17. Court records indicate that Suarez-Contreras was operating the vehicle without a valid license, as his Georgia license had been canceled. The vehicle continued to back up after hitting Murphy, pushing her to the ground. While the driver was charged with causing a death, his defense attorney argued the incident was not criminal in nature. The incident highlights the impact of unauthorized drivers on road safety. Both Suarez-Contreras and the front-seat passenger, Luis Sanabria, were determined to be in the United States illegally. Because of his immigration status and potential flight risk, Suarez-Contreras is being held without bond. The administration of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a detainer for the driver, who is scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 17.