A Utah nurse received a modest prison sentence for killing her friend with insulin to claim a $1.5 million life insurance policy.
Meggan Randall Sundwall was sentenced to a maximum of 15 years behind bars on Monday for killing Kacee Lyn Terry, 38, in 2024.
Sundwall was convicted on charges of manslaughter and obstruction of justice after she pumped Terry full of insulin, causing her to die from low blood sugar.
The killer was Terry's friend and a registered nurse. She and her defense attorneys argued that Terry was suicidal and Sundwall had been attempting to help her in a misguided way.
Prosecutors argued that Sundwall had intentionally driven Terry to die through premeditated actions and that she showed no remorse. During a pre-trial investigation Sundwall cursed her victim's ghost, saying that she 'hopes Kacee will get what's coming to her in the afterlife.'
Sundwall received an indeterminate sentence of between one and 15 years for manslaughter, and zero to five years for obstruction of justice.
Judge Sean M Peterson addressed Sundwall during sentencing. 'Unlike Kacee, you still get to live your life, and I truly hope you make the most of it,' Peterson said according to ABC4.
'Your story doesn’t end here. You’re going to get out of prison, and you’ll get to live your life.'
Kacee Lyn Terry (left) was killed by her friend Meggan Randall Sundwall (right)
Judge Peterson ordered the sentences to run concurrently, which means the terms will be served at the same time. The indeterminate sentence means that Sundwall could be released on probation after the minimum term has elapsed.
Peterson also recommended that Sundwall receive credit for the time she has served in jail since she was arrested on March 20, 2025, though that determination will be made by the Board of Pardons and Parole.
Sundwall was first arrested after responders were called to a home in Highland, Utah, which is just south of Salt Lake City, on On August 12, 2024.
Inside, they found Terry unconscious and struggling to breathe. Sundwall told the first responders that Terry had 'major health issues' and that she had been suffering for 'several hours.'
She also said that Terry had terminal cancer for the past four to five years and that she had signed a 'Do Not Resuscitate' order.
Terry never regained consciousness and was declared brain-dead by doctors. She died three days after the 911 call was placed.
Investigators later determined that Sundwall's claims that Terry had cancer and diabetes were false.
According to court documents reviewed by KUTV, Sundwall believed that she was the beneficiary of a $1.5 million life insurance policy in Terry's name.
Judge Sean M Peterson sentenced Sundwall to a maximum of 15 years behind bars, but she could be released on probation in as little as one year
Court documents also said that investigators found more than 28,000 text messages between Terry and Sundwall dating back to December 2019 that showed 'Meggan offering to "help" (Terry) die.'
Other text messages reportedly showed conversations about how Sundwall's financial problems would disappear if she were to receive the life insurance payout.
After Terry died, Sundwall searched for the victim's life insurance policy and deleted more than 900 text messages from her phone in an effort to destroy evidence, according to court documents.
Sundwall's trial by jury began on March 11 and took eight days. She had originally been charged with aggravated murder and obstruction of justice, but the jury convicted her of a lesser charge of manslaughter.
During the sentencing hearing, some of Terry's family members shared victim impact statements.
Kylee Clark, Terry's older sister, criticized the defense for painting the victim as a liar and a thief during the trial, and she condemned Sundwall's actions.
'I hope that as you sit in prison each and every day, that you remember you made those choices,' Clark said, per ABC4.
'No amount of time in prison will bring Kacee back. This did not have to happen. I don’t think I will ever be able to forgive you for what you did to my family.'
Sundwall also spoke and apologized for her actions, saying that ‘assisting in her committing suicide was wrong.'
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.