HIGHLAND, Utah – A nurse from Highland, Utah, has been arrested and charged with aggravated murder and obstruction of justice in the alleged poisoning death of her friend and former roommate, Kacee Lyn Terry, 38.
According to KUTV, Meggan Randall Sundwall, 47, is accused of administering a fatal dose of insulin to Terry. Authorities believe Sundwall was motivated by a rumored $1.5 million life insurance policy on Terry, as stated in a police booking affidavit.
Back in August, Terry’s uncle found her unresponsive and struggling to breathe and called 911, according to KSL. The uncle reportedly told the dispatcher Terry had “major, major health issues,” and it “sounds like she’s drowning.”
KUTV reports that Sundwall, who admitted to being alone with Terry all day, told the uncle that Terry had been unwell for “several hours.” Police documents show that earlier that morning, Sundwall had texted Terry, 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 didn’t want to be taken to the hospital. However, a diabetic needle was found at the home, and Terry’s blood sugar level was measured at 14 at the hospital. A blood sugar level of 40 is considered life-threatening.
Terry’s sister told hospital staff that Terry had been diagnosed with leukemia several years prior, according to a search warrant. However, Terry’s family has disputed this claim.
“(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 says.
Terry’s family spoke with her primary care doctor at the hospital. The doctor confirmed that Terry had never had cancer. The doctor also confirmed no health issues were revealed in her autopsy. Furthermore, the doctor stated that Sundwall was not Terry’s power of attorney, according to KSL.
According to police documents, Sundwall believed she was the beneficiary of Terry’s $1.5 million life insurance policy.
Police discovered over 28,000 texts 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 authorities.
Other texts discussed Sundwall’s financial troubles and how she could resolve them if she obtained Terry’s life insurance money, police said.
Sundwall was booked Thursday into the Utah County Jail in lieu of bail.
The Office of the Medical Examiner determined Terry’s cause of death was an overdose of promethazine and probable exogenous insulin, among other drugs.
