An 82-year-old Florida grandmother was killed in a grocery store parking lot after being struck and run over by an SUV driven by a man who was in the country illegally, according to court records and law enforcement officials. Deborah Murphy was walking in a crosswalk outside a Publix supermarket in Panama City Beach on May 17 when a Toyota 4Runner reversed into her, pushing her to the ground and continuing to back up over her. She was taken to a hospital but died from her injuries. The driver, Carlos Suarez-Contreras, 26, has been charged with driving with a canceled license and causing a death, a third-degree felony under Florida law.
Suarez-Contreras and his front-seat passenger, Luis Sanabria, 29, both Venezuelan nationals, were determined to be in the United States without legal authorization, arrest records show. The passenger initially fled the scene on foot before law enforcement arrived but returned after being called by the driver. Sanabria was found to have an expired visa and was released into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Suarez-Contreras gave what a deputy described as «suspicious» answers during initial questioning. He is being held without bond due to his immigration status and because authorities consider him a potential flight risk.
The case highlights Florida’s restrictions on driver’s licenses for undocumented individuals. Under state law, illegal immigrants cannot obtain a Florida-issued license. Suarez-Contreras’ Georgia driver’s license had been canceled, according to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, which declined to specify when. Across the United States, 19 states and the District of Columbia do issue licenses to unauthorized residents, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that about 16% of fatal traffic crashes in 2024 involved drivers with invalid licenses.
Murphy’s family remembers her as a vibrant person who inspired those around her. Her twin daughters, Beth Schulz and Amy Edge, said she was a teacher and devoted mother and grandmother who touched many lives. «She was a light,» they said, «with so many more memories to be made.» One of Murphy’s grandchildren compiled a collection of her reflections on life. In one passage, Murphy wrote, «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.»
The defense attorney for Suarez-Contreras, Russell Ramey of Musca Law, argued that the incident was not criminal. «It’s simply an unfortunate incident and not criminal in nature,» Ramey said in an email. Suarez-Contreras has entered a written not-guilty plea. His arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 17 at the Bay County Courthouse in Panama City.
Pedestrian crashes in parking lots are a common safety concern. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cites drivers failing to check behind them when backing up as one of the most frequent causes of such incidents. In Florida alone in 2024, there were 10,501 pedestrian-related crashes, resulting in 678 deaths, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Nationwide, 7,080 pedestrians were killed and more than 71,000 injured in traffic crashes that year. Murphy’s family continues to seek accountability, saying they are determined to see Suarez-Contreras held responsible for his actions and to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.