‘Cold medicine murder’ victim was stabbed dozens of times, autopsy shows
Lauren Hugelmaier Phelps’ husband, Matthew Phelps, is charged with murder.
New developments in ‘cold medicine murder’ case in Raleigh, North CarolinaReport reveals causes for last year’s hot air balloon crash in Lockhart, Texas.
Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer/AP
— — A woman whose husband told 911 that he thought he stabbed her to death after taking too much cold medicine suffered over 100 wounds, according to an autopsy report.
The 123 sharp-force injuries to 29-year-old Lauren Hugelmaier Phelps included wounds to her head, neck, torso and arms, the autopsy report said.
Matthew Phelps, 28, of North Carolina, has been charged with one count of murder. He has not yet entered a plea and is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 23, according to the Wake County clerk’s office. ABC News has reached out to Phelps’ attorney, Joseph Cheshire, for comment.
Death penalty possible for man who told 911 he thought he killed wife after taking too much cold medicine
Man tells 911 he thinks he killed wife after taking too much cold medicine
Police say on Sept. 1 Matthew Phelps called 911 and told the dispatcher, “I had a dream and then I turned on the lights and she’s dead on the floor.”
“I have blood all over me and there’s a bloody knife on the bed,” Matthew Phelps said. “I think I did it.”
“I can’t believe this,” he said.
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Matthew Phelps told 911, “I took more medicine than I should have.” He said he “took Coricidin Cough & Cold,” explaining, “a lot of times I can’t sleep at night.”
The dispatcher asked if the victim was awake, and he responded, “She’s not breathing. Oh my God.”
The dispatcher asked if the victim was beyond help, and he replied, “I don’t know. I’m too scared to get too close to her.”
Sobbing, he said, “She didn’t deserve this.”
Bayer, the makers of Coricidin, said in a statement at the time, “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,” Bayer said, adding, “There is no evidence to suggest that Coricidin is associated with violent behavior.”
Mom was secretly giving her 1-year-old son high blood pressure medicine that she ‘crushed up’ and mixed in his sippy cup
By Akim Powell
Published: Jan. 17, 2026 at 12:21 AM GMT+7
RENO, Nev. (Gray News) – A Nevada woman was sentenced after she poisoned her 1-year-old son with high blood pressure medicine that she crushed up and mixed with milk in his sippy cup.
According to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Alesha Martin, 25, was sentenced to 10 years for willfully poisoning or adulterating food, water or medicine.
In May 2025, detectives received information that a 14-month-old child had suffered multiple unexplained medical emergencies.
The child was hospitalized on multiple occasions in both Nevada and Utah, raising concerns of possible intentional poisoning.
The investigation revealed that Martin intentionally gave the medication to her child on multiple occasions throughout May 2025, including while the child was in the hospital.
On June 6, Martin told detectives that she had been giving her son medications that were not prescribed to him. Specifically, Martin allegedly claimed that in April she crushed up two clonidine pills and put them in her son’s drink, KSL reported.
Clonidine is typically used to treat high blood pressure and ADHD. However, that medicine had not been prescribed for the child.
Martin said that on at least four occasions she gave the medication to her son.
The 25-year-old mom then admitted that while her toddler was in Utah, she gave the medication to him on May 14 and again on May 21 while he was in the hospital, KSL reported.
Martin said she had been dosing her son every six to seven days and had “spaced out the dosing so she did not hurt him.”
She recounted at least five times in May that she crushed up the pills and mixed them with milk in his sippy cup or yogurt.
She will be eligible for parole after serving four years.
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