In the early days of marriage, it's common for couples to bask in the glow of newfound love, often characterized by intense affection and a notable absence of conflict, a state some might call blissful harmony. But as these newlyweds navigate the challenges of merging their separate lives - socially, financially and legally, the pressures can become overwhelming. This scenario is further complicated when a partner chooses to hide behind a mask, only allowing the world to see a curated version of themselves. Lauren and Matthew Phelps, with visions of a bright future together, seemed to be on the path to marital success. But on the early morning of September 1st, 2017, a terrifying incident shattered their dreams and devastated an entire community. Let's dive in. Hi everybody, my name is Lauren Phelps. Lauren Hugelmaier, a friend of mine, has decided to have a Facebook party. It's really, really simple to be a part of her party. All you have to do is go to Facebook and click "going" to the Facebook invite that she has already sent to you. So it's super, super simple. You can be in your PJs, on the go, sitting on the couch watching TV, to be a part of this event. There's going to be videos, posts and even some games. You may win something. You never know. So make sure to go click "going" so you don't miss anything. Born in Los Angeles in 1998, Lauren Hugelmaier grew up in Kentucky before her family, including her parents and two sisters, relocated to North Carolina. Church was a priority for her. Lauren was deeply connected to Hope Lutheran Church in Wake Forest, a commitment she shared with her sister, the church's youth minister. After graduating from Appalachian State University with a business degree, Lauren became an auditor for a Fortune 500 company. Her radiant spirit, especially evident as a Sunday school teacher in Raleigh, left a lasting mark. Friends and family described her as a vivacious, kind and determined woman who yearned to be a mother. Matthew Phelps, also known as Matt, was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on March 11th, 1989. He lived with his grandparents for the first 13 years of his life. This arrangement was made so that his 20 year old mother could pursue higher education. While his relationship with his biological father is unclear, his mother later achieved success in the medical field with an advanced nursing degree. She was in and out of Matt's life during that period, and he described their relationship as "not very close." Matt graduated in 2011 from Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in Kentucky, specializing in Evangelism and Mission. According to his writings, he initially attended Bible College in pursuit of a love interest that didn't pan out. Most recently, he lived in Raleigh, North Carolina, and earned a living at Dunlap Lawn Service. According to published reports, Matt was an aspiring pastor, although friends and family members of the Hugelmaier's highly dispute this notion. According to Lauren, she and Matt attended middle school together when they were living in Kentucky. Matt searched for and found her online 11 years later and followed her on Instagram. By chance, both had relocated to North Carolina. After exchanging messages online, they decided to meet in person. A relationship blossomed, leading to their marriage on November 11th, 2016. The newlyweds settled in Lauren's two bedroom townhouse, enjoying a joyful honeymoon phase. Both were prolific social media users and rarely missed a chance to share their happiness with friends and family online. Amidst the lighthearted moments, Lauren harbored deep convictions. Her dreams weren't just idle thoughts, they were clear visions anchored by determination and a concrete plan. She envisioned a world where she'd be a doting stay at home mother, raising children with Matt in a warm, loving environment. To that end, Lauren purchased a townhouse in Raleigh in 2014. This will be the family home she imagined, ringing with laughter and memories. While Lauren earned a good living as an auditor, it was important to her to transition to remote work that would allow her to contribute financially while caring for her future children. So she had recently begun selling products for Scentsy, a multi-level marketing company that offers scented home and body products. Lauren was passionate about her work for Scentsy and fully bought into the so-called opportunity. Hey, everybody, it's Lauren, obviously. So I am just kind of here today because I've gotten a lot of questions about one of our new products. It's a new scent delivery system. So our warmers deliver scent, our diffusers deliver scent, our car bars deliver scent, everything that we have delivers scent. So this is a new scent delivery system. As Lauren approached her 30th birthday, she was ready for the next chapter in her life. She had a spacious home suitable for children and a supportive husband who she believed shared her aspirations. Her sister, Beth, noted the family embraced Matt, believing he brought Lauren happiness. Lauren's father treated him like a son. Yet beneath the glossy veneer of their social media highlights, a storm was silently gathering in the Phelps household. On September 1st, 2017, Matt stated he had difficulty sleeping. He went to the medicine cabinet and took a few tablets of the over-the-counter cold and cough medicine Coricidin. Upon awakening in the early morning hours, he was met with a chilling sight, his own body drenched in blood, a large knife beside him on the bed, and a gaping void in his memory of the night's events. He called the police at 1:10 AM. Officers responded to a report of a stabbing in the 5200 block of Patuxent Drive. As they searched the home, they encountered Lauren on the couple's bedroom floor in the fetal position, mortally injured from apparent stab wounds and with hair clutched in her hands. She was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and later pronounced dead. An autopsy was initiated by the county medical examiner at 9:27 that morning. Matt was immediately arrested and transported by police to the Wake County jail. He was held without bond and made his initial court appearance five days later. Here at the UNC School of Pharmacy in Chapel Hill. The story of a Raleigh man who said he may have murdered his wife while on cold medicine immediately got the attention of at least one pharmacy professor. As a pharmacist, it was one of the first things that caught my attention when I saw there was a medication that could potentially have been overdosed. And the side effects that the person was talking about are typical side effects of the medication that he was taking. I've heard of people having the euphoria, maybe having hallucinations, having that feeling of getting high and feeling good. However, to this extent, where they cause blackout and forget things, this isn't an unusual case. Although she says she's never heard of this level of violence associated with a drug. She can't rule it out. It depends on what other things were in the patient's system or what other things could be interacting with the medication. But it could be a possibility. Yes. Defense attorney Joe Cheshire revealed that Matt has battled depression for many years. From age four, Matt was exposed to disturbing content at home like slasher films, and by high school, friends had introduced him to drugs, including how to get high from cold medicine. Matt does not deny he killed Lauren. However, published reports suggest that his legal advisors were considering claiming involuntary intoxication, also known as the "Ambien defense." Numerous attorneys have used it in cases ranging from DUI to murder. Generally, it is intended to show that the defendant had no knowledge of the act and therefore has diminished responsibility for his actions. It is by no means an easy lane to acquittal. Following Lauren's death, the Bayer Corporation, which manufactures Coricidin, issued the following statement. As prosecutors set out to build their case, they methodically gathered evidence to counter the defense. First, they processed evidence suggesting Matt had cleaned himself up before placing the 911 call. Next, they conducted a series of interviews with friends, relatives, neighbors and coworkers. They obtained a copy of the autopsy findings in which the state medical examiner's office reported that Lauren had been stabbed 123 times. The manner of death was listed as homicide, according to the autopsy report. Lauren was not pregnant at the time of her death. Additionally, a blood sample was obtained for toxicology analysis. Wake county Assistant District Attorney Kristen Fetter discussed the results at an October 2018 hearing. In the 911 call the defendant made, he stated that he had taken Coricidin, HBP, cough and cold medicine. Officers located an empty box and tablet pack of the medicine neatly laid out on the counter in the kitchen of the home. Detective Jackson obtained a sample of the defendant's blood, and this blood was analyzed by NMS Labs. If I may approach with state's Exhibits 21 and 22. A photograph of the Coricidin found at the scene, and results of all the blood sent to NMS Labs. [Judge] - Yes ma'am. Judge, you'll note in the toxicology report from NMS Labs that there was a positive finding for the presence of Dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan is a drug that's found as a constituent of cough and cold medicines, of which Coricidin is included. A City County Bureau of Identification Chemist reviewed the findings from NMS Labs and concluded that whereas the level of dextromethorphan in the defendant's blood exceeded that of a recommended dose of Coricidin, it simply did not rise to a toxic level. The kind of toxic level that would cause symptoms such as dizziness or hallucinations. Investigators delved into Matt and Lauren's relationship and found evidence of marital issues. Court documents reveal Lauren had texted friends about frequent disputes, especially regarding finances. Matt was jobless, unmotivated, contributed nothing to household expenses, and overspent, once racking up over $1200 dollars on iTunes and Xbox subscriptions. This led Lauren to restrict his spending, heightening tensions. She even considered ending the relationship, texting her sister, "I'm done. I want him out of my life. He's holding me back." In addition to the money problems, Lauren questioned Matt's honesty. He had stopped attending church with the family, and she had discovered he was previously married. Matt's first wife told detectives of his lack of ambition and that the marriage ended tumultuously. She recounted incidents of aggression, including one where Matt forcibly dragged her out of bed and down the hall by her hair. This is what prompted her to seek a divorce. Yet those were just the issues that were out in the open. According to a neighbor Matt had befriended, Matt had two Instagram accounts. His public account showcased Lauren and was filled with affectionate photos and loving quotes. However, he maintained a secret account under the username "Marty_Radical." This profile had no mention of Lauren and exclusively contained dark posts about feeling hollow inside, losing faith, references to satanic imagery and how cumbersome it was to have to keep up appearances. Interestingly, Matt exhibited an obsession with the movie American Psycho, with many posts reflecting scenes from the film where he dressed as the lead character, a serial killer. Matt had also expressed homicidal ideation. He confessed to a neighbor that he would someday like to know what it felt like to take a life. The neighbor found the comment disturbingly sincere, more than idle chatter, and cut off communication with him. For these reasons and more, prosecutors believed they could establish that the crime was not some random act. Rather, Matt had known exactly what he was doing when he stabbed his wife to death. He had abused cough medicine recreationally in the past and had tried to use it to excuse his actions this time. To that end, the DA's office announced it had filed charges of first-degree murder, a capital offense in North Carolina, potentially carrying a death sentence. With Matt having entered a plea of not guilty, it would be up to a jury to decide if he acted out of a drug fueled haze or if he deliberately killed his wife. A court hearing was set for October 5th, 2018, but an unexpected turn of events unfolded before the hearing took place. Matthew underwent a mental health evaluation, which was never disclosed as his legal advisors announced he had decided to accept a plea agreement. Lauren suffered an unimaginable fate, quite literally, at the hands of this defendant. The conditions surrounding her death are nothing short of harrowing. Her parents had to do life's unthinkable task of burying their own child. Her siblings, nephews and friends mourn her loss and feel her absence every day. This courtroom is filled today with those people who loved Lauren and are working hard every day at keeping the light that she brought them and this world shining on. During sentencing Judge, we would like to present to you several victim impact statements. But at this time, I would ask that you find that there's a sufficient factual basis for entering this plea, that you accept the defendants guilty plea to first degree murder and that you sentence him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Thank you. [JUDGE] - Thank you Mrs. Fetter. [JUDGE] - Mr. Cheshire, do you wish to be heard or object to the factual basis? [Cheshire] - I do not, your honor. [JUDGE] - Thank you. Defendant's plea is hereby accepted by the court and is ordered recorded. [JUDGE] - I'll hear from the state with respect to sentencing. Under the terms of the agreement, Matt would plead guilty to the first-degree murder of Lauren Hugelmaier. In exchange, he would serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole rather than face the death penalty. On October 5th, 2018, dozens of Lauren's friends, family members and supporters were in court to watch the sentencing. They wore buttons that featured Lauren's picture and blue T-shirts that said, #LaurensLight. Lori Hugelmaier, Lauren's mother, delivered a profoundly moving victim impact statement. [Mrs. Hugelmaier] - Can I sit? - Yes, ma'am. [JUDGE] - Wherever you're comfortable, please. This is a picture of Lauren. Thank you for allowing me to speak, your honor. I have struggled every day since September 1st, 2017, to process and deal with the murder of my child. It's unnatural for a parent to bury their child, and there are times I feel I won't survive. The actions of Matthew James Phelps has forever changed me. It has had a huge ripple effect on my life and those who loved Lauren. Today I want to tell you about my baby, Lauren, was the little child in our family. Lauren was so beautiful inside and out. Charming, high-spirited, sunny and most of [indistinct] adventurer, all rolled into a small package. She loved trying new things. Just not food. She could tumble, dance, rock out with Rock Band, or get into a mudslide, climb a mountain, ski, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, or conquer an escape room. Or she could just dress up and show her fashion style and accessories with flair. Always kind to others, and a smile that could light the world. If you got on her bad side, She could stop you in your tracks with a look. [laughter] I have so many Lauren stories to fill a book but there are a few things I want to share about Lauren. First and foremost, she is a Christian. She grew up in a loving church family, and it was her second home. As she grew, she had a passion for kids and helping them grow in to know the Lord. She devoted so much of her time teaching Sunday school, volunteering at youth group, helping run, babysitting. She knew that she was a child of God and was so grateful for the grace that God gave her. Her love for the lord is apparent in her actions and kindness. Lauren was a natural-born cheerleader. When she was around three or four we went and watched the Mighty Ducks. She was jumping up and down, cheering, "go Ducks, go!" I wish I had that video ... [indistinct] She was wise with her money. She used to save her tooth fairy and allowance money as a little girl, in her pillow. When she was about ten years old I found her stash. I counted up the coins and dollars. That little miser saved over a hundred dollars! in her pillowcase. She bought accessories for her American girl doll, Samantha. Lauren continued to save money. As a teenager, when she had enough to put down a down payment on her own car, she bought a Volkswagen Beetle. She made every payment herself and was proud that she bought the car all by herself at 17. Lauren named her car, "Ditty Dot." As an adult she continued to be a good steward of her money and when she reached her goal for a down payment and closing costs, she started shopping for her own home. When she found what she thought was the perfect place, being close to family, church, and work, she made an offer on the home. She never wanted to ask for help, but when she realized she needed a cosigner to purchase the house, she went to her sister and brother-in-law instead of her parents. This is how responsible and independent Lauren was. This year has been the toughest our family has ever lived through. I'm not sure of all the triggers that will take us back to day one. Just imagine if you will, the shock and horror of detectives coming to your house at 4 AM, being awoken to being informed of your child's murder and all the details that they knew at that time. Being told that there were too many stab wounds to count, so they would have to be counted [indistinct]. Going to a funeral home to make arrangements and being told you can't see your child because her body is too damaged. Going to the memorial service and holding the urn with her ashes. Saying goodbye and watching the pastor place the urn in the columbarium. Then the next day, going to court and seeing her murderer, who just five short days before (indistinct). What a nightmare. Throughout all this haze and shock and disbelief, nothing prepared me for what came next ... When I first went to Lauren's house to look at her house it took my sheer determination to look at the mess that YOU made [glances at Phelps]. My mind was spinning, thinking this is where my baby was alive. Here's where she would have laid down and fallen asleep. Here's where she died. The thoughts of all her little body endured at Matthew's hands is what my nightmares are made of. The world is moving on. People go on to school, shopping and just their day-to-day lives, while here I was, standing at the place where my baby took her final breaths. Blood-dried stains and splatters ... I had a hard time cleaning the blood off the hardwood. I couldn't get the bathroom clean. While I scrubbed, tried washing, it wasn't (indistinct). Looking at the Star Wars tree in the bedroom and seeing blood splatter on the ornaments, the photos, the furniture. We have had many things professionally removed because blood is a biohazard. Why should anyone have to bury their child? Add insult to injury, and have to clean ... the murder scene pack up the murderer's belongings and arrange to have them picked up by police ... it's just too much ... it's too much for any parent to endure. The last time I was at Lauren's house, the walls were painted, the carpet replaced ... all furniture was moved out. There was nothing left. I laid down on the spot where Lauren was murdered. I mournfully cried out of my body. I can't believe the animalistic cry that I was hearing. I miss her. [Statement completed by Laurie's daughter] - all the years of loving, protecting and growing this little person into an amazing adult just to have a coward ... [JUDGE] - Anything further? Does your client wish to be heard? [DEFENSE] - He does, your honor, very briefly. And I might add, before he makes his statement ... [DEFENSE] - I want the court to know, I want the family to know, [DEFENSE] - that I had not one thing to do [DEFENSE] - with his statement. Not one word [DEFENSE] - of his statement has been written by anybody but Matthew. [JUDGE] - Yes, sir. [JUDGE] - Mr. Phelps. I am sorry that I took away Lauren's life. A life that was deeply connected to so many people. Her family. Her friends. Her church. Her coworkers, and especially her nephews. Although I am the very least of these, I took her away from myself. This was a senseless violent act and I regret every step that led me in that direction. Lauren was loving, caring, giving, hard working, smart, funny, fashionable, and loyal. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend, a leader a teacher, and aunt. I consider my own life worth nothing in the shadow of the tragedy weighing over my mind, and on the hearts of so many people in this room today. I feel like a monster. One of the wretched. A part of the darkness we don't speak of. That darkness consumed me until I was blind to the path I had taken, and deaf to my own cries for help. That darkness caused me to do the unimaginable, to take a life that was not mine to take. No length of time will ease my inner sorrow or relieve me of the memory of such a godless act as my hands, which I found incapable of using, have proven. And I will have to live the rest of my life with these hands as a constant reminder. I hope my life will be an example of the consequences for those who think that drinking, drugs and carelessness will only affect themselves and no one else. Be not deceived. God is not mocked. But what's so remains so, and that shall we also reap. Because I now know the implications of my actions reached far more people than I realize. The people who were the most important in my life. And I am sorry. I am sorry to all those people. And even though I'll never be able to make up for the loss and the grief that I have caused all of you, I hope you will begin to see that I am doing everything I can from here, to say that i'm sorry. [JUDGE] - Thank you, sir. [JUDGE] - Thank you. With the formalities completed, it was time for the judge to deliver justice. [JUDGE] - So, ladies and gentlemen, [JUDGE] - there's not much that I could add [JUDGE] - under these circumstances. [JUDGE] - I thank each one of you who have spoken [JUDGE] - to shed some light on the wonderful life of Lauren. [JUDGE] - In a moment, I'll impose the harshest penalty [JUDGE] - under North Carolina line of law, second only to the death penalty. [JUDGE] - That judgment will speak for itself. [JUDGE] - There's not much more this court can do [JUDGE] - to ease your suffering. [JUDGE] - We only can extend the sympathy and the condolences of the people [JUDGE] - of the state of North Carolina to you, which we do. [JUDGE] - I don't think I've ever seen a larger group of friends, [JUDGE] - family and supporters here at a sentencing hearing. [JUDGE] - That means a lot. [JUDGE] - I know you've been with this family throughout, [JUDGE] - church members, family members, friends. [JUDGE] - As a lifelong Lutheran, I know how important [JUDGE] - that community of faith is, and I appreciate it. [JUDGE] - You're probably bringing bean, bean casserole [JUDGE] - and all sorts of things, to this family, because that's what we Lutherans do. [JUDGE] - So I appreciate it. [JUDGE] - I urge you to stay with this family. [JUDGE] - Walk with them, lift them up and be there with them [JUDGE] - as you go forward. [JUDGE] - And I know each of you would join me in saying [JUDGE] - to the family, peace be with you. [JUDGE] - So, Mr. Phelps, if you'll stand, sir. [JUDGE] - You've pleaded guilty [JUDGE] - to the offense of first-degree murder [JUDGE] - of Lauren Nicole. [JUDGE] - I'm imposing the punishment required by North Carolina law, [JUDGE] - which is incarceration for the remainder of your natural life [JUDGE] - without the possibility of parole in the custody of division of Adult correction. [JUDGE] - You're in the custody of the bailiff. Thank you all. Beneath the handpicked glossy exterior of social media posts, the Hugelmaier-Phelps saga starkly highlights the gaps between our public personas and private realities. While online snapshots painted a fairy tale, behind closed doors, the shadows of past and present collided in a tragic manner for the young household. The courtroom testimonies, especially Laurie Hugelmaier's deeply touching statement, spoke to the complete devastation that dishonesty and suppressed struggles can foment when they finally rise to the surface. The story also serves as a compelling reminder that in times of profound sorrow, American communities often unite in solidarity. The overwhelming love shown for the Hugelmaiers, from friends to complete strangers, demonstrates the depth of Lauren's impact and the enduring spirit of humanity, even when confronted with unimaginable cruelty.