Naugatuck Woman Drove Drunk With Kids in the Car, Police Say

A Naugatuck woman is facing felony charges after police said she was caught passed out in her car, heavily under the influence of alcohol, while her two young children were sitting in the back seat.

Randie Murphy, 28, of 81 Beacon Manor Circle, had to be shaken by the investigating officer to wake up when police found her asleep at the wheel on Beacon Wood Court at 5:48 p.m. on Thursday, said Lt. Robert Harrison, Naugatuck police spokesman. The keys were in the ignition and the car was still running, Harrison said.

Initially, police were dispatched to the location — just a short distance from her home — thinking it was medical emergency based on the 911 call, Harrison said. But after awaking Murphy, police were the able to determine she had been drinking.

Murphy was slurring her words and had glassy, bloodshot eyes, Harrison said. When asked where she lived, Murphy gave several addresses and had also said that she thought she was in New Britain, Harrison said.

On top of this, police located a bottle of alcohol in Murphy’s car, Harrison said. She later failed a field sobriety test, at which point police placed her under arrest for DUI.

Because she had her two children in the back seat — ages 3 and 4 — police also charged her with two counts of felony risk of injury to a minor. Murphy was held overnight at the Naugatuck Police Department on a total bond of $11,500.

She was due to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on Friday.

The Department of Children and Families was notified, and the children were reportedly taken into DCF custody, police said.

Editor's Note: This article originated on Naugatuck Patch.