HIGHLAND, Utah (Gray News) – A nurse has been arrested and charged with the alleged poisoning and murder of her friend and former roommate, reportedly motivated by a life insurance policy.
Meggan Randall Sundwall, 47, is accused of administering a fatal dose of insulin to Kacee Lyn Terry, 38, according to KUTV. Authorities believe Sundwall sought to collect on a $1.5 million life insurance policy purportedly held by Terry, as stated in a police booking affidavit.
The incident unfolded in August when Terry’s uncle discovered her unresponsive and struggling to breathe. He reported the situation to 911, citing “major, major health issues,” and the impression she was “drowning,” according to KSL.
Sundwall, who admitted to being with Terry throughout the day, informed Terry’s uncle that Terry had been unwell for “several hours,” according to KUTV. Police documents reveal Sundwall had texted Terry earlier that day, 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 be hospitalized. However, a diabetic needle was found at the scene, and Terry’s blood sugar level was dangerously low at 14 when she arrived at the hospital. A blood sugar level of 40 is considered life-threatening, KUTV reported.
Terry’s sister told hospital staff that Terry had been diagnosed with leukemia. However, a search warrant revealed a different story: “(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,” according to the warrant.
Terry’s family consulted with her primary care doctor, who stated that Terry never had cancer and no health issues were revealed in her autopsy. A do-not-resuscitate order was not found, and Sundwall was not appointed as her power of attorney, according to KSL.
Police investigation revealed more than 28,000 text messages exchanged between Sundwall and Terry, spanning back to December 2019. These messages included discussions of Sundwall’s financial troubles and how she could solve them if she received the life insurance money, as well as messages “detailing different ways Meggan would kill herself if she was (the victim) and of Meggan offering to ‘help’ (her) die,” according to authorities.
Sundwall was booked into the Utah County Jail on Thursday, charged with aggravated murder and obstruction of justice. The Office of the Medical Examiner confirmed the cause of Terry’s death as an overdose of promethazine, probable exogenous insulin, and other drugs.
