Venezuelan Man Charged in Death of 82-Year-Old Woman Struck by SUV at Panama City Beach Publix

A 26-year-old Venezuelan national faces felony charges in the May 17 death of Deborah Murphy, an 82-year-old grandmother who was struck by a Toyota 4Runner in the parking lot of a Publix supermarket in Panama City Beach. According to court documents filed by the Florida Highway Patrol, Murphy was crossing in a designated walkway when the vehicle backed into her, knocking her to the ground before running over her.

Carlos Suarez-Contreras was operating the vehicle when the fatal collision occurred, with 29-year-old Luis Sanabria present as a passenger. Both men were determined to be in the United States illegally and were issued Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers upon arrest. Records indicate both individuals were born in Venezuela.

Suarez-Contreras has pleaded not guilty to the charge of driving with a canceled license and causing a death, a third-degree felony. His Georgia driver’s license had been canceled at the time of the incident. Under Florida law, undocumented immigrants are prohibited from obtaining state-issued licenses, though 19 states and Washington, D.C. do issue licenses to unauthorized residents.

Suarez-Contreras is being held without bond due to his immigration status and concerns he presents a flight risk. He is scheduled for arraignment on August 17 at the Bay County Courthouse. Sanabria was released into ICE custody after authorities determined he possessed an expired visa.

Murphy’s twin daughters, Beth Schulz and Amy Edge, expressed their determination to see justice served. They described their mother as a vibrant woman who left a significant impact as a friend, teacher, mother, and grandmother whose legacy would continue through her family.

The incident underscores a broader traffic safety concern. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that approximately 16 percent of fatal traffic crashes in 2024 involved drivers with invalid licenses. Nationally, 7,080 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes that year, with more than 71,000 injured.

In Florida specifically, authorities documented 10,501 pedestrian-related crashes during 2024, resulting in 678 deaths. Backing accidents in parking lots represent one of the most common causes of pedestrian collisions, according to NHTSA data.