Raleigh man who blamed cold meds after stabbing wife to death faces judge

RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh man charged in the stabbing death of his newlywed wife will face a judge Tuesday.

The Raleigh Police Department said in a news release that officers responded to a reported stabbing on the city's north side around 1:15 a.m. Friday and found 29-year-old Lauren Ashley-Nicole Phelps suffering from stab wounds. She died at a local hospital.

Officers arrested 27-year-old Matthew James Phelps and charged him with murder. He is being held without bond in the Wake County jail. Online records don't show whether he has an attorney.

Phelps will face a judge Tuesday.

Matthew Phelps admits that he may have killed his wife, but he blames cold medicine for turning him into a killer.

Phelps’ disturbing 911 call from his home in Raleigh has been released.

In a distraught voice, he told the dispatcher that he woke up after having a weird dream and found his wife dead on the floor.

“I have blood all over me and there's a bloody knife on the bed and I think I did it. I can't believe this,” Phelps said.

Phelps explained that he'd taken a common, over-the-counter cold medicine the night before to help fall asleep.

Experts say investigators will be looking into any possible motives for the murder.

"He qualifies that, yes it does look like I did kill her. The knife is here. I have blood all over me,” said ABC News contributor Brad Garrett. “However, this medicine made me do it. That's not an uncommon way for people in his position to respond."

Bayer, maker of Coricidin, issued this statement on Monday:

"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. There is no evidence to suggest that Coricidin is associated with violent behavior."

Phelps had been studying to become a pastor and his wife was a Sunday school teacher.

The couple had been married for less than a year.

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Associated Press