Nurse Arrested for Allegedly Murdering Patient with Insulin Injection to Collect Life Insurance
A registered nurse in Utah is facing charges of aggravated murder and obstruction of justice after allegedly injecting her patient with a lethal dose of insulin, falsely claiming the victim had terminal cancer. Meggan Randall Sundwall, 47, was taken into custody on Thursday in connection with the death of 38-year-old Kacee Lyn Terry, who died in August after being administered an unprescribed insulin injection.
The arrest is the culmination of an investigation that began on August 12, 2024, when police were dispatched to a residence in Highland, Utah, in response to a call about an unresponsive woman. Mark Farnsworth, Terry’s uncle, was the individual who placed the call, reporting that he had discovered his niece unconscious and struggling to breathe, describing her condition as if she were drowning. Farnsworth also informed authorities that Terry had significant health problems.
Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement officers found Sundwall alone in the bedroom with Terry. Sundwall stated that Terry had been in that condition for a couple of hours. She also asserted that Terry, who she claimed had been battling terminal cancer for the past four to five years, had signed a do-not-resuscitate order and did not wish to be taken to the hospital.
Paramedics who responded to the scene discovered a diabetic needle, raising immediate suspicions as Terry was not known to be diabetic. When Terry was transported to Mountain Point Hospital in Lehi, medical personnel found her blood sugar level to be critically low, registering at 14. Detectives indicated that a blood sugar level below 40 is considered life-threatening.
While Terry was receiving treatment in the intensive care unit, her sister informed doctors that Terry had been diagnosed with terminal cancer for the past four to five years, corroborating Sundwall’s claims. However, a shocking revelation followed when Terry’s primary care physician informed the family that Terry had never been diagnosed with cancer. An autopsy later confirmed this information, definitively establishing that Terry never had cancer or any other major health problems.
Terry was pronounced brain-dead on August 15, 2024, succumbing to her condition nearly three days after the initial 911 call.
The investigation into Terry’s death unearthed additional concerning information. Authorities were unable to locate a do-not-resuscitate order in Terry’s name, nor was there any documentation designating Sundwall as Terry’s power of attorney.
Terry’s family members told investigators that they had long suspected Sundwall of plotting to kill Terry. Detectives uncovered evidence on Terry’s phone, including a series of text messages dating back to December 2019, that appeared to support the family’s suspicions.
The text messages, totaling more than 28,000 between the two women, revealed that Sundwall had, over the course of four years, described various methods by which she would commit suicide if she were in Terry’s position. Shockingly, Sundwall allegedly offered to "help" Terry die and discussed how Terry’s death would resolve all of her financial difficulties.
Following Terry’s death, Sundwall allegedly deleted over 900 text messages from her phone and conducted an online search for Terry’s life insurance policy.
According to investigators, Sundwall believed she was the beneficiary of a rumored $1.5 million life insurance policy held by Terry.
Sundwall was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail on charges of first-degree aggravated murder and third-degree obstruction of justice. She is currently being held without bail.
The Lone Peak Police Department has yet to issue a statement regarding the case.
This case bears a resemblance to other recent incidents involving healthcare professionals who have been accused of harming patients. In Virginia, a woman was arrested for impersonating a nurse and working at multiple hospitals in California. In the United Kingdom, a nurse named Lucy Letby was caught allegedly tampering with a premature baby’s breathing tube. Another British doctor admitted to attempted murder after injecting his mother’s partner with poison disguised as a vaccine.
The allegations against Sundwall have sent shockwaves through the medical community and raised serious questions about patient safety and trust in healthcare professionals. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the case progresses through the legal system. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the future of patient care and the accountability of healthcare providers.
