A Provo jury on Tuesday convicted former Santaquin nurse Meggan Sundwall of manslaughter and obstruction of justice, deciding she used insulin to kill her friend, Kacee Lyn Terry, in Highland in August 2024. Defense attorneys told jurors Terry may have taken her own life, while prosecutors countered that Sundwall manipulated a vulnerable friend for years and then tried to scrub incriminating digital footprints. The whole case revolved around tens of thousands of private text messages and a stark question: did a registered nurse cross the line from caregiver to killer?
Jurors began deliberating Monday afternoon and returned their verdict late Tuesday, according to KSL. Sentencing is set for May 4. The panel also found Sundwall guilty of obstruction of justice and concluded she deleted nearly 1,000 of roughly 28,000 messages exchanged between her and Terry.
What Jurors Heard
Prosecutors leaned heavily on that massive text archive. They said the messages showed Sundwall repeatedly urging Terry to use insulin to “pass” and referencing a rumored $1.5 million life-insurance payout, as reported by Local 12. When paramedics responded to Terry’s Highland home, they reportedly found a diabetic syringe. Police documents state Terry was not diabetic, and investigators say the medical examiner found no chronic health conditions that would explain her sudden collapse.
Court Record And Appeals
Court filings show Sundwall was originally charged with aggravated murder and obstruction of justice. An interlocutory opinion from the Utah Court of Appeals detailed why she was kept in custody and noted that prosecutors formally told the court they would not seek the death penalty. Justia records say judges denied Sundwall pretrial release after finding substantial evidence and raising concerns she might flee. In the end, the jury opted for convictions on the lesser counts of manslaughter and obstruction rather than aggravated murder.
Police Statement
Lone Peak Police Chief Brian Gwilliam summed up the outcome in a statement that sounded equal parts relieved and resolute. “The jury has returned a guilty verdict on charges of manslaughter and obstruction of justice,” he said, praising investigators and prosecutors, according to Local 12. He added that the department hopes the verdict gives Terry’s family at least a measure of closure after an “extraordinarily difficult loss.”
What Comes Next
Under Utah law, manslaughter is classified as a second-degree felony, a designation set out in the state criminal code, which is compiled by the Utah Legislature. State sentencing rules, detailed on FindLaw, allow prison terms for second-degree felonies that can stretch into the mid-teens of years, depending on statutory factors and a judge’s discretion. Sundwall will learn her exact punishment on May 4, when the judge hears arguments from both sides before handing down a sentence.
