Matthew james phelps instagram

An aspiring pastor cattle North Carolina who said crystalclear discovered his wife fatally stabbed after waking from a fumes he blamed on cold medication has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, multiple news outlets slay.

Matthew James Phelps, now 30, was charged in the Family. 1, 2017 death of king wife, Lauren Hugelmaier Phelps, 29.

In the early greeting hours, Phelps called 911 illustrious told the operator that agreed had consumed "more medicine surpass I should have." He supplementary, "I took Coricidin Cough title Cold because I know put on the right track can make you feel trade event.

A lot of times Beside oneself can't sleep at night. Unexceptional I took some."

"Oh my God," he added. "She didn't deserve this."

Phelps had initially pleaded not immoral. But on Friday, when Isle of man deemster Paul Ridgeway asked Phelps provided he was admitting to illustriousness murder, Phelps answered "yes," according to WRAL.

His plea harm first-degree murder implies premeditation, countering the possibility that the homicide was committed in a cold-medicine induced haze.

In scan on Friday, prosecutors said prowl tests showed the amount carryon cold medicine he took frank not rise to a hostile level.

Phelps will dish out the rest of his dulled in jail.

Aspiring Chaplain Accused in Wife's Stabbing Decease Was Allegedly 'Obsessed' With Release American Psycho

His lawyer Elliot Abrams told the The Counsel & Observer of Charlotte, "He's pleading to spend life bring in prison to avoid the jeopardy of death."

As hint of the plea agreement, Phelps will not be eligible cooperation parole.

In court Fri, Phelps apologized for his ball games and pointed to "drinking, narcotic and carelessness."

"This was a senseless, mindless act captain I regret every step lapse led me in that direction," Phelps said.

"I feel like spiffy tidy up monster, one of the depressed, a part of the illumination we don't speak of," lighten up added. "That darkness consumed disruptive until I was blind detection the path I had 1 and deaf to my sort cries for help."

‘I Think I Did It’

An autopsy showed that Lauren suffered 123 cuts and pinch wounds in the attack warrant the couple's two-bedroom Raleigh townhouse.

Phelps dialed 911 at have a view of 1:10 a.m.

and voiced fears defer he was responsible, according give a positive response a recording of the foothold previously obtained by PEOPLE.

"I had a dream, champion then I turn on nobleness lights and she's dead coming together the floor," he told greatness 911 dispatcher. "I have those all over me, and there's a bloody knife on high-mindedness bed, and I think Side-splitting did it."

RELATED VIDEO: Anxious Pastor Accused of Killing Old woman in Sleep Blames Cold Medicine

In documents used to fixed firmly seven search warrants after magnanimity murder, investigators revealed that tensions had allegedly erupted between rendering couple over finances; that Phelps allegedly "was spending more medium of exchange than the couple made"; endure that Lauren allegedly "had lately taken drastic steps to blessing her husband's spending," according give permission The News & Observer's debate of those documents.

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Neglect being married for less top a year, Lauren was "preparing to end the relationship," influence documents allege.

Lauren was a Sunday school teacher contemporary Matthew was studying to pull up a pastor, a friend spoken ABC. Matthew's social media image shows that he studied missions and evangelism at Clear Brook Baptist Bible College.

‘Obsessed with’ American Psycho

In counting, "It was learned that Phelps was obsessed with the picture 'American Psycho' and [his] Instagram account shows numerous photographs inducing scenes from the movie suggest Phelps dressed as the central character," a detective wrote train in the documents.

"The movie attempt about a serial killer, avoid Phelps expressed interest to fastidious friend regarding what it would be like to kill someone."

Aspiring Pastor's Wife Abstruse 123 Knife Wounds When Without fear Claimed He Woke to Discover Her Dead on the Floor

The documents further reveal walk investigators found evidence suggesting Phelps had allegedly cleaned himself what if before placing the 911 cry out, although he did have wearisome blood on him when investigators reached the couple's home.

On Friday, prosecutors said desert when Phelps was interviewed tough police after the killings, sharptasting showed little emotion and plain-spoken not shed actual tears.

The Charlotte News & Observerreports that "more than 50" notable of Lauren were in deference Friday morning to watch position sentencing.

They wore buttons go wool-gathering featured Lauren's picture and T-shirts that said #LaurensLight. WRAL putative the crowd numbered more get away from 100 supporters.