DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. — A Dinwiddie man will serve 30 years in prison for the murder of 19-year-old T'miya Murphy on I-85 in 2023.
Zayah Elijah Phelps, 23, was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years of incarceration after pleading guilty to first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and malicious shooting at a vehicle in connection with the homicide of T’miya Murphy on August 1, 2023, on I-85 southbound near the 63-mile marker in Dinwiddie County.
“This case was never just about a conviction—it was about honoring the life of the victim, T’miya Murphy and ensuring accountability for a senseless act of violence,” said Amanda Nicole Mann, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Dinwiddie County. “Our office, alongside the Virginia State Police, pursued justice with purpose and resolve every step of the way. While no sentence can ever replace a life lost, today’s outcome affirms that violent acts in Dinwiddie County will be met with firm and unwavering consequences.”
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