A Fayetteville woman who was reportedly a passenger in a vehicle that led a Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy on a high speed chase ending in injury to the deputy after a crash in downtown Sanford has been arrested on drug charges after authorities said they found prescription opioids in her underwear, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Department.
Elizabeth Raven Murphy, 34, of Fayetteville, is in custody at the Lee County Jail under $100,000 secured bond after being charged with trafficking opium and possession of a controlled substance in a confinement facility.
According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, Murphy was in Cory Fennell’s vehicle on Monday morning when he fled Sgt. Jeff Oldham after allegedly trying to run him over during a traffic stop. The chase ended when Oldham crashed into a storefront at 128 S. Steele St. in downtown Sanford and had to be taken to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, where he reportedly continues to receive treatment.
Fennell – who fled from a Hope Mills police officer in a similar manner in 2017 – apparently abandoned his vehicle not far away and was later found hiding underneath a nearby house. Now, deputies allege that Murphy also “fled from the scene escaping apprehension.”
“It was discovered that Elizabeth Raven Murphy had two outstanding warrants for arrest,” reads a press release from the sheriff’s office. “Murphy was found and arrested on Monday by Sanford Police officers for the outstanding warrants and was found by the same officers to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana. Once in custody … Murphy was found to have a total of 17 Oxycodone pills, 6 Hydrocodone pills packaged in a clear plastic bag hidden in her underwear.”
According to the press release, Murphy was initially arrested on Monday but “was under the influence of an impairing substance and was combative which made it impossible to process her until (Wednesday) safely.”
