'I Think I Did It'

Matthew Phelps didn’t deny killing his wife – but was it actually his fault?

- Gail Shortland

Through the eyes of social media, their relationship was utterly enviable.

Matthew and Lauren had been married less than a year and they were still in the honeymoon period.

I am so blessed to have this handsome man to call my husband, Lauren wrote on her Facebook wall.

Matthew’s profile picture was the couple goofing around on their wedding day with lightsabers.

The fun couple hadmuch in common – a love of Star Wars, their devout Christian faith and an excitement about starting a family together.

The couple lived in Raleigh, North Carolina.

They’d married in November 2017 after reconnecting through social media years after being at middle school together.

Outgoing Lauren, 29, sold scented candles and taught at a local Sunday school.

Matthew, also 29, had studied at Bible school and was working at a lawn-service company while he strived to become a church pastor.

Everyone wanted to be part of their love story, and soon, the whole world would be.

In the early hours of September 1, 2017, Matthew made a desperate 911 call.

He said that he’d woken up, covered in blood.

There was a knife on the bed and his wife lay severely injured on the floor with multiple stab wounds.

Matthew said he had no memory of what had happened – but he suspected he had killed his wife.

‘I had a dream and then I turned on the lights and she’s dead on the floor,’ he cried to the operator. ‘Um, 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.’As emergency services were dispatched, Matthew explained his actions.

He said he’d taken a cough medicine, designed for people with high blood pressure, the night before.