A Florida grandmother is dead after being run over by an illegal alien in a Publix parking lot.
The incident happened in May, when 82-year-old Deborah Murphy was walking through a crosswalk in the Panama City Beach store’s parking lot. Video captures the horrifying moment leading up to her being struck by a Toyota 4Runner, allegedly being driven by Venezuelan national Carlos Saurez-Contreras, who is reportedly in the United States illegally. Footage shows the Toyota backing up, but cuts off before the driver allegedly runs into Murphy, knocking her down. Instead of stopping to render aid and reporting the accident, the driver allegedly continues backing up, and running over the elderly woman before taking off.
She succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Watch:
🇺🇸 82 YO Florida grandmother Deborah Murphy was killed on May 17 2026 when a vehicle backed over her in a Publix parking lot in Panama City Beach.
Murphy was walking in a crosswalk back to her car when a Toyota 4Runner driven by 26 YO Carlos Suarez-Contreras struck her knocked… pic.twitter.com/du3P2e65Qg
— Steven J. Latham (@StevenJLatham1) July 26, 2026
The passenger in the front seat of the SUV was identified as 29-year-old Luis Sanabria, who is also allegedly in the country illegally. Both men are in custody at this time, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued detainers.
Saurez-Contreras has pleaded not guilty to the charge of driving with a canceled license and causing a death.
Fox News reported that “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,” the outlet noted. “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.”
Russell Ramey of Musca Law, the attorney defending Suarez-Contreras, claims 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,” he insisted.
As for Murphy’s family, they are dedicated to pursuing justice for Deborah.
“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. “She touched so many lives as an amazing friend, teacher, mother and grandmother.”
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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