HIGHLAND, Utah – A nurse has been arrested and charged with the alleged poisoning and murder of her friend and former roommate, reportedly to claim a life insurance policy.
Meggan Randall Sundwall, 47, is accused of killing Kacee Lyn Terry, 38, by administering a fatal dose of insulin, according to a report by KUTV. Sundwall allegedly believed she was the beneficiary of a $1.5 million life insurance policy held by Terry, as stated in a police booking affidavit.
In August, authorities were called to a home after Terry’s uncle discovered her unresponsive and struggling to breathe, according to KSL. The uncle told the 911 operator that Terry had “major, major health issues” and that it “sounds like she’s drowning.”
KUTV reported that Sundwall, who admitted to being alone with Terry all day, told Terry’s uncle that Terry had been suffering for “several hours.” Police documents reveal that Sundwall texted Terry earlier that morning, asking, “Do you want to take some promethazine when I get there so that you are asleep when this is happening?”
Sundwall claimed Terry had signed a do-not-resuscitate order and did not wish to go to the hospital.
Terry, who was not diabetic, was found to have a diabetic needle at the home. She was transported to the hospital where her blood sugar level was measured at 14, according to KUTV. A blood sugar level of 40 is considered life-threatening.
Terry’s sister informed hospital staff that Terry had been diagnosed with leukemia several years prior, according to a search warrant. “(Terry’s sister) stated that she moved Kacee out of the shared apartment and into her grandfather’s house where she lives now due to Kacee complaining about Meggan bringing insulin home and trying to talk Kacee into treatments to help end her suffering,” the warrant stated.
Terry’s family consulted with her primary care doctor at the hospital, who confirmed that she had never had cancer. The autopsy revealed no health issues, and a do-not-resuscitate order for Terry did not exist. The doctor also stated that Sundwall was not Terry’s power of attorney, KSL reported.
According to police documents, Sundwall believed she was the beneficiary of a $1.5 million life insurance policy held by Terry.
Authorities discovered over 28,000 text messages between Sundwall and Terry dating back to December 2019, including messages “detailing different ways Meggan would kill herself if she was (the victim) and of Meggan offering to ‘help’ (her) die,” according to officials.
Other text messages discussed Sundwall’s financial problems and how she could resolve them by obtaining Terry’s life insurance money, according to police.
Sundwall was booked into the Utah County Jail Thursday on charges of aggravated murder and obstruction of justice.
The Office of the Medical Examiner confirmed that Terry’s cause of death was an overdose of promethazine, probable exogenous insulin, and other drugs.
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