Did a Friendship Built on Lies Lead to Kacee Terry’s Death?

Hi Crime Junkies, I'm your host Ashley. Flowers. >> And I'm Brit. >> And the story I have for you today is. one with [music] a twist I never saw. coming. It's about the complicated relationship. between [music] two best friends and the. dissection of 28,000. text messages that led up to a single. night in August of 2024. Two women, a girls day, and only one of them is still living to. talk about it. At the heart of this story is one.

question. Who was in control? The answer is far more complicated than. you would think. And it's a reminder of our very first. life rule. You never really know anyone, ever. This is the story of Kasey Terry. It's the evening of August 12th, 2024. and a man named Mark Farnsworth is heads.

down working in the office of his. parents home [music] in Highland, Utah. And around 9:00 p.m. his dad pops into. the office saying that he's kind of. worried about Mark's 38-year-old niece, Kasey [music] Terry. Kasey lives in the. house with them. There was a lot of. people in this family home, but he. hadn't heard from Kasey or seen her all. day. >> [music]. >> And he doesn't just like barge into the. basement where she lives. She's like a. grown woman after all, but he'd been. calling and calling. She just [music]. won't pick up her phone. So, he's hoping. that maybe Mark can just like go down.

and check on her. >> And why can't he? >> Well, this is Mark's dad who's like. older and so I don't know if he he. almost never went down there, but I. don't know if that's just like hard for. him to go like up and down the stairs or. whatever. So, Mark gets up. [music] He. makes his way down the staircase. It's. totally dark in the hall that leads to. Kasey's room. So, Mark flicks on [music]. a light. And when he opens Kasey's door, even. though the lights are off inside the. room, the hall light shines [music] in and. illuminates a very strange scene.

Casey is thrashing [music] around on her. bed, seemingly unconscious, like. gurgling and struggling to breathe. And surrounding her in the room are. three other people in the dark [music]. just calmly watching her. Now, there is one woman sitting in a. recliner at the head of the bed, another. sitting in a rolling chair, and a man. standing behind the woman in the chair. Mark doesn't know who these people are. or what the F is going on, but it feels.

like he is the only concerned one in the. room. So, he starts asking [music]. questions, like, "How long has she been. like this?" And the woman in the. recliner answers, >> [music]. >> "A couple of hours." "Hours?" Mark hears. this and immediately says that he's. going to go call an ambulance. But this. is when he finally gets a reaction from. the woman in the recliner. She freaks. out and tells Mark [music] he can't call. anyone because Casey has a DNR. She. wouldn't want [music] to go to the. hospital. This woman says she is Casey's.

healthcare proxy. >> Okay, but Mark doesn't even know who. this woman is. >> Exactly. So, quickly, Mark calls Casey's. sister, Kylie, because if anyone would. know about Casey having a DNR, it would. be her. >> sister. >> Yeah, when she picks up the phone, Mark's like, "Listen, Casey's in trouble. and I feel like I need to call the. paramedics. Does she have a DNR?". >> [music]. >> And Kylie says, "No." Now, before. hanging up to call 911, Mark tells her. that there is someone [music] in the. room saying otherwise. And this is the. first time that Mark asked the woman in.

the recliner for her name. And she says. she's Megan, Casey's [music] best. friend, and the people with her are her. parents. >> Wait, whose parents? >> Megan's parents. >> Oh. >> Now, Mark at least recognizes Megan's. name. He's just never seen her in person. before. But when he relays this to Kylie. over the phone, he says [music] that. Kylie immediately changes her tone. She. gets loud and she says, "Get her out of. there. She's there to kill Casey.". >> What? [music].

>> In the two seconds she has before Mark. hangs up and calls for help, Kylie. either gives him the need-to-know. information so that he understands what. he's dealing with or he's like pieced. together more just by knowing Megan's. name. But either way, he now has a. chilling realization that he'll relay to. 911 on this very first call. >> 911, what's the address of your. emergency? >> Highland, Utah. >> Okay, tell me exactly what's happened. >> Okay, my niece lives here. This is my.

parents' home and she lives with my. parents. She's. had major, major health issues and she's. unconscious and she's been taking Lasix. for fluid on her lungs. But it sounds like she's. drowning. And I don't know if she's overdosed on. something. >> Okay, I'm getting help started that way. Stay on the line for me. I'm going to. have a few questions for you, okay? >> Okay.

>> And are you with her now? >> Well, she's downstairs in her bedroom. I'm upstairs. >> Okay. And then, how old is she? >> She's like 37 or somewhere in that. neighborhood. >> Okay. And is she awake? >> No. [music]. >> Is she breathing? >> Yes, she's breathing but it's really. labored and it sounds like she's got. [music] a lot of fluid in her lungs. >> Okay. And is she still unconscious?

>> Yeah. >> Is her You said she was in the basement, correct? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And is the front door the best. access for my paramedics? >> Yes. Well, no. I'm going to open the. garage door. Tell them to pull up to the. end of the driveway. And I'm going to open the garage door. >> Okay, and then tell me when the. paramedics are right there with her. And then you said she also possibly has. taken medications today? >> [clears throat]. >> Yeah, she's.

we got a um issue here. She Her friend. has been here all day. And her friend. um. used to be the beneficiary on her life. insurance policy. >> Okay. And then really quickly, was this. accidental or intentional for the. possible overdose? >> Well, we don't know. We don't know if the. friend. >> Okay. >> has been giving her anything or not. The. friend was here when I came down here.

Her parents were here. And when I told them I was calling for. the ambulance, they all got upset. >> Okay. >> And so, we're not sure. if they find some. some chemical in her system, we're going to look at that. with the friend. If she thinks she's still the. beneficiary on my niece's life. insurance, and I don't think she is. I.

think. >> [music]. >> my niece took her off of it. I can hear the sirens. >> Okay, perfect. >> to move my truck out of the way. So, they can get to the garage. >> Okay, okay. And then are my paramedics. there with you now? >> Yeah, they're just pulling in. >> When Mark leaves paramedics to Casey's. room, they actually walk past Megan and. her parents, Lee and Renee Randall, who. are leaving the house.

>> Like leaving to get out of the way or. like leaving leaving? >> Dad left and went home right away. Megan. and her mom got in the Megan's truck and. then just like parked around the corner. to watch what was happening cuz Megan. said that she didn't want to leave her, but then after like 20 minutes, they do. leave leave and they go home, too. But. in those 20 minutes, paramedics were. working to stabilize Casey enough to get. her to the hospital. And when they get. there and run some tests, they see that. Casey's blood glucose level is 14 mg per.

deciliter. Which I don't know how much. you know about normal glucose levels. >> like a Grey's Anatomy level of. knowledge, but that sounds really low. >> It's extremely low. Like far below the. threshold for even severe hypoglycemia. >> [music]. >> The brain relies on glucose to function. And the normal range for a healthy. person is between 80 and 100. Dropping. [music]. below just 50 can cause someone to go. unconscious. 14 is a medical emergency. and means brain activity is severely. [music]. impaired.

>> Well, and I assume that doesn't happen. naturally. >> No, usually when you see levels this. low, there are just a handful of causes. Like. >> [music]. >> excessive drinking, starvation, liver. disease. But even with those, it's. difficult to drop all the way down to. 14. Based on Casey's other tests, they think. one of the only ways that she could have. gotten [music] like this low would have. been through being given insulin. >> And was Casey diabetic? >> No. [music]. Now, people in her family were. Her. uncle Mark and her grandmother have type.

1 diabetes. In fact, her uncle Kyle, who. had been living in the house with all of. them, too, had died 7 months earlier due. to diabetic complications. So, there was. plenty of prescribed insulin in that. house. But again, none of it was supposed to be. for [music] Casey. Though doctors do. come to learn that she did have a number. of other health complications. Casey was. born with only one kidney [music] and. had chronic kidney disease as well as. endometriosis, fibromyalgia, severe. anxiety, depression,

>> [music]. >> interstitial cystitis, chronic nausea, severe osteoarthritis, a bleeding. disorder, and her family tells them. >> [music]. >> terminal cancer. Woah. But the thing is, none of that explains [music] her. glucose levels. Doctors try to balance her out by giving. her increasing doses of dextrose, basically [music] liquid sugar. And they. check her blood sugar every 15 to 30. minutes for 2 days to see how she's. responding. But they can never get her. levels to stabilize, which means Casey.

never regains consciousness. So, on the third day, August 15, the. hospital team determines [music]. that Casey is not going to wake up. And. after a decision by family and doctors. to remove her from life support, [music]. she passes away. >> And I take that to mean that Megan is. not, in fact, her medical proxy. [music]. >> Not even a little bit. So, as you can imagine, they're pretty. keen to talk to this woman.

>> [music]. >> I am popping on to start a conversation. about a case I cannot get it out of my. head. >> A true mind-bender. >> A huge [music] twist your way you. gut-check all your assumptions. Cuz this. is a case that starts like so many. before. >> Hi, Crime Junkies. >> [cheering and screaming]. >> By the time Megan sits down with police. on August 16, they've already spoken to.

some of Casey's family who relay their. versions of August 12. But none of them know what happened. before Mark walked down the stairs. Only. 47-year-old Megan [music] Sand Wall, who. was a registered nurse, by the way, knows that. But the circumstances are incredibly. bizarre to Casey's family. And Megan might have had a big fat. motive [music]. because at one time, at least, Casey had. a 1.5 [music].

million-dollar life insurance policy. that would have paid out to Megan. But by the time Megan sits down with. police, it doesn't seem like she's. gotten wind of any suspicions toward. her, or at least she's playing it really. cool. [music]. She tells police that on August 12th, 2024, her and her best friend Casey had. planned to have like a girls' day. together. Megan got to Casey's. grandparents' place in the morning and. said that Casey seemed okay, but she was. slurring her words. Now, she'd known about Casey's cancer.

and even knew that it had gotten so bad. recently that she had been put on. hospice care. >> [music]. >> So, the slurring wasn't super. concerning. Like, it didn't throw up any. big red flags. So, they settle in, watch a movie. Now, Casey fell asleep at some point, but then woke up, took a nausea pill, and then was going to go to the. bathroom. She said she was just going to. be a minute, but it ended up being. [music] way more than a minute that she. was in there, and Megan started to get. concerned that maybe Casey had like. passed out in there. So, she started.

pounding on the door trying to get her. to come out. [music]. When she finally did, Megan said that. Casey looked totally out of it. She was. like loopy, which made [music] her think. that maybe she'd taken something. She. didn't know what, or even if she had, she like. >> [music]. >> couldn't explain to police how or why. she seemed to be going downhill so fast, but she just got Casey back to her bed. and then sent a text [music] message to. the doctor who was in charge of her. hospice care to let him know what was. going on. And then she said she sat. [music] with Casey while she waited to.

hear back from him. Now, this was just. before 2:00 p.m., [music] and Megan then. text her mom. The text said, "She's not. doing too great. I can't even get her to. wake up.". 2 hours later, she sent another [music]. text saying, "I don't think I'm going to. be leaving here for a bit. I think she's. going to pass.". And then around 5 hours after that one, Megan called her parents to say that. Casey [music] was not doing well, and. that this could be it. So, she wanted. her mom and dad to come over and give.

Casey a blessing of release, which. they'd actually given her before at. times when Casey was in periods of. particularly [music] poor health. >> And why would her parents be giving. Casey this blessing of release? I mean. no offense, I'm probably not calling. your parents on my deathbed. >> No, this is because they're super close. So, Casey had suffered a lot of loss in. her life. Like, she lost her mom to an. illness when she was four. She lost her. dad when she was 24, and then she lost. the aunt who stepped in to take care of. her. So, the Randalls, like being her. best friend's parents, like they kind of.

took Casey in, and she reportedly like. called them mom and dad. So, it makes. [music] sense for them to come. And they're more than willing to drive. over to be by Casey's side. [music]. They got there around 8:30 p.m. According to Megan's dad, when they. walked into Casey's room, she was lying. on her side unconscious [music]. and had really labored breathing. >> And neither of them suggested calling. 911 when they got there? >> No, [music] because Megan had told them. about Casey's DNR a long time ago, and. she also told them that she had.

contacted Casey's doctor. She's like. just waiting to hear back. >> it's been hours. [music]. >> I know. >> Okay, and but fact-check me on this. Like, a DNR, it doesn't it just mean that you. like can't perform CPR? Like, it doesn't. mean zero care. at all, right? >> No, you're 100% right. A DNR just means. like no chest compressions, no electric. shocks, no life support. Someone with a. DNR can absolutely go to the hospital, that you can get oxygen, medication, comfort care. >> comforted? >> Yeah.

>> No, like Sugar is definitely like in. this, right? >> Yes, but like. >> So, shouldn't Megan know all of this? Like, she's an RN. >> Well, should she have known that you can call. for help? Yes, but I think her saying. that she like like notified the hospice. doctor was maybe like her saying that. she was like looking or trying to get. help. And when it comes to administering. anything, like sugar or whatever, theoretically, she wouldn't have known. that [music] Casey's blood sugar was the.

problem, right? Like she's saying she. didn't know what caused her to be in. this state. And I don't know [music] how. much info she's getting from the family. when Casey was in the hospital. Police. presumably know that her condition had. to do with low blood sugar. People might. even be suspecting insulin at this. point, but they don't have proof. So, I. doubt that police are like telling her. much either. [music]. Either way, after getting her parents. there, Megan chose to take a seat back. in the recliner and invited them to sit. with her while they waited.

>> Waited for her to just. die? >> For her to pass, for maybe the doctor to. reach back out to any of it. I don't. know, but like not long after this is. when Uncle Mark comes down the stairs to. check on Casey, and like you know the. rest. >> Right. >> Except the part about them leaving. So, she does tell police that she didn't. want [music] to leave. She wanted to. stay with Casey. But when Mark went. upstairs to call 911, Megan called. Casey's sister Kylie to ask if she knew. about the DNR. But as we know, Kylie was.

not having it. She told Megan that she. was not welcome in the house, and that. she needed to leave. And if she stayed, Kylie was going to call the police. So, she says that's why they left in kind of. such a hurry that night. Now, Megan. tells police she has no clue what. happened when Casey was [music] in the. bathroom. But she is clear with them. Quote, "I didn't [music] help her. I. didn't do anything.". But there's. >> [music]. >> something that doesn't make total sense.

When they ask Megan point-blank if Casey. had any life insurance or a will, Megan says [music] no. Which is like not what they were. hearing, right? Yeah. Or at least not. what Mark said on the. >> [music]. >> So, investigators like, "Okay, like just. to confirm all this stuff, Like, would. you mind handing us your phone? Like, [music] a lot of this should be easy to. prove, right? Communications with her. parents, messages to the doctor, who. By the way, like [music] kind of weird. that he apparently never called back.

about his hospice patient. Yeah, so he. they're like, you know what? It would. really help if we can get your phone as. we're like sorting everything out. And. she agrees. She says she has nothing to. hide. She just. doesn't want to give her phone right. then. Soon, though, [music] she will. Now, they don't push. They can't take it. without her permission yet, because. there's not enough probable cause to. And at that point, I don't know how much. hope they had for getting enough. probable cause, because at that point. the only thing they had collected in the.

way of evidence were a bunch of empty. prescription bottles from Casey's room. and a syringe from the floor by the. recliner where Megan had been seated. [music]. And a glucometer. Which. >> Wouldn't that prove like someone was. checking her glucose, her sugar levels? >> It makes it look like someone at least. could [music] have been. But, again, where we're at in the story, they won't know that until they check. the data [music] from it. And I don't. even know if they that had happened or. not. >> So, was there You said empty like.

prescription bottles, but was there no. [music]. insulin that they found or any anything. else like that there? >> Not not right away, which is why I bet. detectives were. thanking. >> [music]. >> their lucky stars that just days after. they had this conversation with Megan, >> [music]. >> Mark, Uncle Mark, found some insulin for. them. On the 18th, [music] while. cleaning up the back patio, which is. like just outside the entry to the. basement, Mark saw this box of orange. Fanta in the garbage can, which, by the. way, Casey's favorite [music] drink.

But, when he takes it out of the trash, he wants to like step on it so he can. like flatten it out, he realizes there's. something inside this box. There is this black rag, which is. wrapped around a syringe, a syringe cap, [music]. and a partially used vial of insulin. with 13 [music]. needle punctures. And this is extremely. significant because Mark says, "This is. not how anyone in that house would. dispose of [music] insulin.". So, he calls the lead investigator on. this case who comes down the next day.

[music] to collect everything. And while. they're already down there and still. trying to find out what might have. gotten introduced into Casey's system to. cause her death, they think, you know, why [music] not search the basement. bathroom? Cuz I mean, presumably, in. Megan's story, if something got into. Casey's system, >> it happened in that bathroom. >> Exactly. But, they didn't find [music]. anything in there. No pill bottles, no syringes, no. insulin. Now, mind you, [music] this is how many. days later, and to complicate things.

even more, there had actually been. [music] this big storm the night that. Casey was taken to the hospital and her. basement room flooded. So, at least some. of the crime scene may have been. contaminated. So, still, everything in. this Fanta box, it's suspicious, [music] but it's not a. smoking gun. >> I mean, it seems like a murder weapon to. me here. >> But, this isn't even a murder right now. Remember, this is This is just a. suspicious death. >> [music]. >> They know she died. There's been no. autopsy yet. But, you're right, this.

doesn't look good because whatever a. future autopsy is going to show, there. are really only three options here. Accident, suicide, or murder. Now, finding this insulin like this. feels like accident is probably [music]. going to be off the table. >> Mhm. >> But, to call it a suicide or a murder, they're going to need to figure out who. had that insulin [music]. and who administered it. And there seemed only be two options.

Megan. or Casey. So, who are these two women? What were. their dynamics? The best way to figure this out is to. get into their phones. >> [music]. >> They obviously have Casey's already, and. Megan does turn hers over on August. 19th, [music] as promised. But weirdly, the communications between. the two don't seem to match [music] up. from phone to phone. Cuz it seems like in those 3 days after.

agreeing to give them her [music] phone, Megan had deleted over 900. messages between [music] them. >> What? >> 283. of which were sent between July 20th and. [music] August 12th. And all of these messages, which again, are still on Casey's phone, by the way. >> could only delete them from her own. phone. >> In them, they specifically discussed. life insurance, [music]. financial problems, suicide, and insulin. A lot of talk about.

insulin. [music] And you have to hear. some of these messages to believe them. Because they make it extremely clear. that Megan was not telling police the. whole story in her first interview. So, Casey and Megan met around 2013 as. co-workers at this inpatient facility. for disabled adults. >> [music]. >> Casey was a house manager, and Megan was.

a nurse. And they quickly became very. close, and Casey began to spend a lot of. time not only with just Megan, but with. Megan's parents as well. That's how she. kind of became part of the family. >> [music]. >> And when I say that these two were. close, police had to go through 28,000. text messages that the two women. exchanged between 2019. >> [music]. >> and 2024. And take into consideration. that for a chunk of that time, Casey. actually lived [music] with Megan up. until Megan got married. And then even. after a short stint of her living. elsewhere with a roommate, Casey ended.

up moving back in with Megan and then. her now husband, Mitch, [music]. and she lived with them up until 2020. when she moved into the basement of her. grandparents' house. Now, one reason that the two might have. been so close was that they had been. through and shared [music]. a lot. It was in the early stages of. their friendship that Casey shared with. Megan that she had cancer. >> [music]. >> And back in 2014, she was communicating. that she didn't have much time left. That year, Casey, Megan, Megan's mom, they went to Disney World together for. what Casey said was going to be her last.

like big trip. I mean, she obviously. ended up having more time, but things. never really got better. And it was a. long, drawn-out battle filled with ups, but mostly downs. We're talking chemo, hospital visits, hospice [music] care. Casey did have her family to help, but. when they couldn't, Megan was there. >> [music]. >> She was always there, not just in. person, but like always just a text. away. And Casey processed [music] every. emotion with her, even the scary ones.

In one message from 2019, Casey wrote, "Reassure me I'm not dying.". >> [music]. >> And Megan responded, "Unfortunately, I. don't know if you're dying or not. I'm. sorry. You need to be prepared no matter. what happens.". >> [music]. >> That's blunt. >> Yeah, well, if that's blunt, then you. can classify other messages she sent as, I [music] think, brutal. Because by. 2020, Megan was texting Casey on. multiple occasions telling her, "There. is nothing [music] left here for you.

You have so, so much more on the other. side.". >> [music]. >> And slowly, the conversation turned into. discussing different ways of ending. Casey's life. A gun, pills, [music] until they. ultimately settled on insulin. Megan said that it would be easy. [music]. Casey would just fall asleep. >> And they were living together at this. time, right? >> Yes, and within a day or two of that. discussion, Megan brought home a vial of.

insulin and [music] stored it in the. fridge that they shared. She told Casey. that she had checked with a pharmacist. friend [music] and she would need at. least 100 units of insulin to end her. life. But in August of 2020, it seems. like Casey started to express doubts. about the plan. And Megan texted her, "I am convinced you are not going to. pass until you actually want to, completely. You've asked for blessings, >> [music]. >> taken steps, and say you want to, but I. know you don't. You have to let go. It.

is past time." [music]. >> Her texts are getting like pretty. aggressive here. >> Like increasingly so. And in September. 2020, Casey texted Megan that she, you. know, she's like like feeling the. pressure, right? She's like, "I don't. you know, I don't know why I'm having. doubts about our plan.". And Megan responded, "I don't know why either. I drew them up. for you and tried to get you to take. them. You were really [music] out of it, which I thought was the point.". >> Is she talking about drawing up insulin. with a syringe? >> Well, she doesn't specifically say that.

in the text, but from the context, like. that's what it seems like. And there were a number of messages like. [music] these. "Are you doing insulin tonight? You didn't use the insulin last night. [music] Are you planning on it? Do you. want me to take that insulin back? The. shots were still in the fridge. I drew. them up for you and tried to get you to. take them.". >> Dude, red flags. >> And listen, the motivation behind this. feels [music] anything but altruistic. when they see that in 2020, Casey.

reminded Megan about the life insurance. policy that she had that Megan was the. beneficiary of. But this is where things. go off the. rails for me. >> [music]. >> At the time, Megan replied, when they're. talking about this life insurance. policy, asking if it would be enough for. cosmetic surgery. >> What? >> She said, "Can I get a face lift, tummy. tuck, eyelid surgery?". According to Casey's sister, Kylie, this. was about the time that Casey started. questioning her friendship with Megan.

>> You think? >> And Casey is supposedly worried about. making Megan mad, and she felt like she. couldn't die fast enough for Megan's. liking. Kylie said Casey eventually told. her that she thought Megan was trying to. kill her, and she showed Kylie the. bottle of insulin in the fridge where. they were living. And that is actually. when Kylie moved Casey out of the house. and into her grandparents' basement. That's why the move happened to begin. with. >> Oh. >> But even then, like Casey and Megan stayed friends, and.

they continued to text. 2021 was a new year, but the same old. convos. >> [music]. >> Megan asked Casey, "Want to know what I. would do?" And then she suggested. drawing up everything she had and. injecting it all at once before asking, [music]. "Do you want me to come over and do it?". And after this, Casey began to text Megan that she had. been trying to use insulin [music]. to end her life, but that it just hadn't. been working. She messaged Megan that she had injected.

four [music] and a half bottles of. insulin. >> Over four bottles. >> Yeah, and if we're talking like standard. vials, this is literally 4,000 units of. insulin, which is enough to kill anyone, diabetic or not, >> Yeah. >> many times over. >> [music]. >> But she's telling Megan that it didn't. work. And neither did nine bottles, she. texts her later. >> And Megan is a nurse though. Like, wouldn't she have known that Casey. couldn't have been telling the truth. here? >> I mean, I'm sure, which to me should.

give someone every indication that this. person doesn't want to die. >> Right. >> Also, her family is like taking her to. her cancer treatments all the time. They're going to hospital emergency room. visits at like all hours of the night. Like, to me, that's like in such contradiction. to all of this. But I don't think Megan would get off. her back about it. Like she kept sending. these text messages and Casey continued. to like go along with this plan, but. like in a non-committal way.

Casey seemingly wanted to keep [music]. communication and a relationship with. Megan, no matter what that was costing. her. [music]. And it kept up like this until 2022, when Megan then changed the plan. >> [music]. >> She text Casey, "Someone. should probably be me should stay with. you and continue to give you doses so it. will actually stay low and you can. pass.". But Casey continued to stall.

In October 2023, messages show that. Megan was asking [music] about the life. insurance policy again. She texted Casey this long message. [music]. It says, "Can I ask you a question I really. shouldn't? >> [music]. >> Is the money thing for real? I don't think Mitch and I are going to. be staying together and I need to know. what I'm looking at as far as being able. to take care of my son by myself and how. much I'm going to have to work, whether. it be two or three jobs.

>> [music]. >> I'm so sorry to ask, I really am. I feel. really uncomfortable asking actually.". [music]. And Casey replied, "Yes, I promise it's. real. I have made sure to keep. everything current. I started my. policies after my dad died because I. knew I would need it with my health. problems. I wouldn't lie to you about that. I. wanted to surprise you with it. This was. probably a relief to Megan [music]. because in 2023, she and her husband. started to have financial problems.

[music]. In a text to her husband, she said that. she was counting on the thing with Casey. being true to bail us out.". >> Wait, so she's not actually leaving her. husband, she's just using that as. emotional blackmail? >> Girl, this I don't know what in [music]. this story is true, but no doubt Megan. gets more desperate, especially after. she loses her job in 2024 for falsifying. time cards and lying about it. And. >> [music]. >> when I say desperate, like messages get.

unhinged. In one, Megan tells Casey, "If you dying. would get me out of this mess and. darkness, I am in. I would take [music]. it." And Casey later says, "I hope I can. just die within the next few days cuz. then you can quit your job, and I would. honestly. >> [music]. >> love that for you.". And Megan replied, "You are sweet. >> [music]. >> I'd love that, too.". And she tried to make that a reality, telling Casey things like, "I can give.

you insulin over and over until it. works. >> [music]. >> I want to make sure that I come and help. you do it.". These messages are inching closer and. closer to late July, early August, >> [music]. >> and Megan just keeps asking Casey if she. wants her to come over and do it. And. Casey keeps trying to push her off with. a bunch of different excuses. >> [music]. >> She's scared. She wants to talk to her. doctor first. She even gets to a point. of trying to say that she's trying to do. it herself, but her body has a. medication absorption problem, and she.

invented a fake surgery that she was. planning to go get that would allow her. to absorb meds so that she could die. And Megan, a nurse, did not call her on. this or question this. This is not a. real surgery. She basically just said. that if the surgery didn't happen, they. should just like try over the weekend. >> Uh why is she still friends with this. woman? >> Or Casey or Megan? Like [music]. >> Honestly, both. But but Casey, I'm this. woman clearly only wants you dead for. the money. >> This is a at the heart of this story.

There is [music] this very complicated. dynamic here that we haven't even. scratched the surface on. Like I get. drama bonding, but this is. some next level sh-. Like this has to be some sort of like. emotional abuse or something. >> Well, Megan would eventually argue that. this is something that Casey wanted. Like this was the plan that they made. together. [music]. And especially closer to the end, as she.

had to be put on hospice care and had. like three whatever different nurses, that eventually what like whatever. happened before, eventually this is is. what she wanted. She, Casey. She, Casey. That's what she's saying. Now, on August. 10th, Megan said, "I couldn't make it work today, [music]. tomorrow, Monday even. You don't have to. draw it up all yourself. I would come. and help [music] you.". On August 11th, Casey texted Megan that. she spent the night drawing up insulin.

And the two agreed that Megan was going. to come over the next morning. >> So, this was the girls' day. >> [music]. >> Yep. Everything boils down to this day. August 12th, 2024, [music]. and what really happened once Megan came. over. Now, Megan must know that even. [music] after deleting these messages, police are going to see them. Because. after her first interview with them,

when they asked for her phone, but. before she actually hands it in, she has. a recorded phone call with the lead. >> [music]. >> detective, where she seems to try to lay. a little groundwork. Like get ahead of. things. She says, quote, >> [music]. >> "I think I need to say that I knew what. Casey was doing and I [music] didn't. help her.". >> You think you need to say that, or you. are saying that? >> Yeah, and the messages that they will. will eventually have show a little more. than you knowing what she was doing.

Like this very much feels like a you. plan. >> Yeah. >> And she for sure made no attempt to help. her. Because, by the way, that [music]. text that she sent to the hospice. doctor, it turns out, when they see her phone, that was sent at 12:47 p.m. That's before she said that she started. to really get worried about Casey. And here's what the message actually. said. "Hello, Dr. Masteller. This is. Meg, [music] Casey's friend. I'm just.

trying to touch base with you and see. where we're at with getting surgery. scheduled. Casey's memory isn't the. best, so when I ask her, she isn't. always very clear.". >> Which is like. not her calling about like being worried. about Casey, Casey's in crisis, I need help with Casey, can you help me. figure out what's going on with Casey. It's nothing like we. I assumed the call to the hospice doctor. was going to be. >> And she like has to be, once she turns. over her phone, she has to be like.

sitting and stewing, thinking about all. the things they're going to see [music]. and read. She has to be spiraling and. getting nervous, like so much so that. without even being asked, she shows up. at the police station to like check in. on the investigation. >> how's it going? >> It's August 21st now, [music] and. specifically she's there wanting to know. if they're going to be doing an autopsy. on Casey. >> Uh yeah. >> Yeah, which at that point already done. and dusted. They're just still waiting. on the report.

So, this impromptu visit, like this may. not have been when they planned to bring. her back in, but like, hey, [music] now. she's here. Good a time as any to ask. her about all those deleted messages. [music]. and why she deleted them. And she said she did that because she. didn't want it to look like she had done. anything that she was [music] being. accused of doing. >> Okay, it it. that's definitely what it does look. like. Like more I mean, honestly, looks. worse. >> Right. Like she must have like I don't.

know. You had to have known that those. messages were going to be on Casey's. phone. Like that You didn't make them go. away. >> Right. >> It's just so odd to me. Now, after this interview, police have. at least one more chat with Megan on. August [music] 29th. But then, after this, things kind of go. quiet because I think this is when they. go into like. >> [music]. >> case building mode while they wait for. the autopsy results to come back. But. operating under the assumption that.

insulin is [music] the culprit here, which is like what everything is. pointing to, they're excited when they get back some. data from that glucometer, that one that. was found at the scene. >> Oh. >> Apparently, it recorded 19 readings. [music]. over a 10-hour period on August 12th. Based on the timing of the messages and. phone [music] data, the first reading. was taken by Casey before Megan arrived, and it showed a normal blood sugar level. of 87. [music]. From when Megan arrived until 1:43 p.m.,

eight more readings were taken until. Casey recorded a blood sugar level of. 43, which is a hypoglycemic emergency. and means that Casey would have been. unconscious. From there, her blood sugar continued to. drop until 4:17 p.m. [music]. when it started to return like it would. it just said low, l o. >> Oh. >> [music]. >> And at 4:23, Megan's phone recorded a. Google search for how low the glucometer. could read. >> I was. >> [music]. >> actually about to say that's what that. means. >> Like it doesn't even go that low. The.

last reading was taken at 7:19 p.m. >> [music]. >> And as we know, it would be over an hour. until Megan's parents arrived to give. Casey a blessing of release. >> [music]. >> And in all that time, remember, even if. she didn't administer the insulin, Megan's assertion has been that she. thought Casey was dying and that she was. just respecting her DNR. >> [music]. >> as her medical proxy. >> Which she wasn't and she lied about. >> She also lied about the DNR.

>> [music]. >> It is confirmed Casey never had one. The night Casey was taken to the. hospital, authorities could not find one. anywhere among her things, which was. surprising because when someone has a. DNR, it's common practice to hang a copy. like on the refrigerator or keep it on. the nightstand or. >> Have it accessible. >> Yeah, so that someone entering your home. is going to see it immediately. >> [music]. >> But after checking with medical. providers, it turns out that Casey never. had a DNR at any point. Everything Megan.

was saying was a lie. >> [music]. >> And the complicated thing about this. case is that it's twisted at its very. core. And the very foundation on which. it was built are lies. But not Megan's. Casey's. Any theory of motive for why Megan would. want Casey dead is centered around the. 1.5 million-dollar life insurance policy. that she was supposed to be the.

beneficiary of. The policy that they had. talked about in text messages. The one. that was going to solve all of Megan's. financial troubles. The one Casey. promised would be coming to her. But after Casey's death, no one in her. family would hand over the paperwork so. she could collect on the policy. She. even had the balls to ask police to try. and help her find it, but they said that. they hadn't come across anything like. that. So finally, Megan just called the. insurance company. Like she might not. have the paperwork, but she had the. policy number to give them. [music]. Except when she does, she's told that.

it's not real. Casey did not have a life [music]. insurance policy. >> At all? >> Not at all. I mean, [music] there is a piece of. paperwork from 1996. that suggests at one point a policy. might have existed, maybe, but certainly. in no time when she had met Megan in. 2013 or after, did she have an insurance. policy. Nothing even remotely like close. to it or that would have been active. It. [music] was a total.

lie. And by the way, Casey didn't need a life. insurance policy because I haven't even. gotten to the biggest lie of all. One. that up until Casey's death, everyone. seemed to believe. [music]. And that's the fact that Casey, who had been telling her family and. friends for years that she had terminal. cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy, [music]. did not have any form of cancer.

whatsoever. >> Oh my god. >> Her. >> What? >> Her autopsy will confirm it. Casey's. cause of death is determined to be from. [music] the combined effects of. oxycodone, promethazine, and probable. [music] synthetic insulin. The ultimate manner is ruled. undetermined cuz they can't say how the. insulin got in her system, [music]. but the important point is that she was. not, at any time, dying of cancer or had.

cancer. >> Okay. I feel like I need to give my sec- my. like brain a second to catch up here. >> I know. And this is the most wild part. to me. She was not just lying to Megan. Her whole family really believed she had. cancer. They had really been taking her. to what they thought were chemo. treatment appointments, late-night ER. visits, [music]. and she was constantly hooked up to drip. bags at home. And they'd even been in. communication with her hospice nurses,

who had names, Becky, Kelly, Amber, Lauren, but it turns out none of them. were real, either. It was her texting. from her own phone pretending to be. them. And Britt, the doctor that Megan. had text, that interaction wasn't real. Like, the. doctor was real, but I the the number. that Megan had text that day [music] was. to Casey's dead dad's old number. >> Which explains why the doctor never got.

back to them. >> Yeah. And the bags that she had been. hooked up to were saline that she got. delivered for her kidney disease, [music]. which, by the way, was found to be the. probable result of ibuprofen overuse. >> Was Casey telling the truth about. anything? >> I mean, she did actually have only one. kidney and severely arthritic knees for. which she was prescribed opioids. >> [music]. >> And some of her conditions, like. endometriosis, fibromyalgia, anxiety,

depression, I mean, those are like. diagnosed based on patient-reported. symptoms. [music]. >> was this like a Munchausen's thing? >> I don't see it like described that way. anywhere officially, but Casey was. definitely exhibiting the signs. >> Yeah. >> Her primary physician said that she was. a frequent [music] flyer and that the. opinion among him and his staff was that. she liked the attention that came. >> [music]. >> with medical crises. >> I mean, do you think Megan knew she was. lying and.

whatever she was doing was some kind of. like revenge? >> Dude, like this complicates things so. much. I don't know what to [music]. believe. Like, in my mind, Megan had to. have known she was faking it. I'm like, to be fair, I guess like the people she. was living with didn't know, so it's. like possible Megan didn't either, but I. keep coming back to the fact that Megan. was a nurse, and some of the stuff that. Casey was saying and doing should have. been red flags. Like, for example, so. she has that arthritic knee. She is. supposedly on hospice care. This is like.

>> end-of-life care. >> Right. But, just weeks before she died, she got a knee replacement surgery. Like. there were signs. I mean, maybe Megan was blinded by the. the money or the promise of money. I. don't know. Like I could spiral. I mean, like if she knows all of this is fake, why is she even texting this doctor. about a fake surgery? Like did she did. she think. >> [music]. >> the number was real? Did she think the. surgery cuz it we're talking about that. we're talking about the surgery she was.

going to have to like reverse her. absorption, whatever. So like did she. did did she believe all of that or is. she just like going along with something. that Casey's asking her to do in the. moment so that like she's trying to. convince. >> the ruse or something. >> Yeah. I don't know. Like. I don't know. >> [laughter]. >> To me, the the one and only thing that. comes across loud and clear from the. messages is that no matter what Megan. knew or didn't know or believed or. whatever, she didn't [music] actually.

care about Casey. She cared about the money. Now, what did. Casey care about? I don't know. Like I. >> [music]. >> I one of the things that like when I. looked at this case and drew me to and. I'm like, man, if this played out a. different way, would we be doing like a scam episode. about her? >> Yeah. >> Like maybe. But even though like what. led up to Casey's death is. >> [music]. >> complicated and messy, no doubt. Police say that doesn't change the end. picture, >> [music]. >> which they believe is that of a woman.

who plotted her best friend's murder for. a payout. [music]. So on March 20th, 2025, Megan was arrested on charges of. premeditated, aggravated murder, and. obstruction of justice. >> [music]. >> At trial, her future and this whole case. boiled down to one question. Who was in control in Casey's room that. day? >> [music]. >> I mean, is [clears throat] that even a question. though? I feel I feel like the text. messages say exactly what the plan was.

>> Well, based on all of the court. documents and trial transcripts, which. is what we used as source material for. this at whole episode, that is what the prosecution will argue. That Megan took advantage of and. intentionally killed her vulnerable, admittedly flawed, friend. [music]. They put forward that Megan, a trained. nurse, went along with Casey's. unbelievable lies, including [music]. surviving nine vials of insulin, because. she was struggling financially and.

wanted to collect Casey's life insurance. money. They say that on August 12th, Megan was. the person in control of the situation, [music] and the event was a planned. execution, not a misunderstanding nor a. suicide. >> What if they were. both in control, though? Like, [music]. if Megan injected Casey with the insulin. because Casey told her to. >> Like assisted You're You're talking like. assisted suicide. >> Yeah. >> Well, that like you can't You don't even want. to argue that here because in most. states, including Utah, that's still.

illegal. Yeah, so in a case like this, even if Casey was a willing participant, that doesn't remove any criminal. responsibility from Megan. Also, [music]. even if that's what she would have done, if she did it how Casey laid it out, like truly assisted her, [music]. Casey should still be alive. Because. even though Casey was making this plan, [music]. behind the scenes, it seems like she was. still looking for a way out. Kind of. like all the times before, when she.

would like agree to do it and then be. like, "Darn, nine bottles didn't work.". Like, she's faking it, right? So, this. is escalating. Megan now wanted to do. this in person, so it seems like Casey. had to come up with a new [music] way to. fake it. And I think she probably found. one, because the night before the 12th, when Casey texted Megan that she spent. the night drawing up insulin, >> [music]. >> her Google search history suggests. something different may have happened. That night, Casey's phone shows repeated. searches for "Is it okay to give.

yourself a shot with [music] just saline. in it?". >> So, she was going to have like stage. syringes ready to go with not insulin. >> It seems like it. Like if Megan came over and injected. Casey with the syringes that Casey had. prepared, which had if they had saline. in it, nothing would have happened. >> Right. >> And I think Casey could be like, "Look, see, like I'm trying, but like it just. doesn't work on me." Remember, she'd. been telling Megan that the reason it. wasn't working before was she had this. like medical absorption condition. Like.

it wouldn't work. But we know something. like. >> [music]. >> obviously did happen. So, the prosecution argues that Megan. like switched the syringes. But the defense basically says like no, Casey did something wrong, >> [music]. >> and there was insulin in those. Like. like she Maybe she was trying to think. it Maybe she didn't want to die, but. like. >> [music]. >> it didn't go how it was like how it was. planned. >> test the needles to prove like which. ones had administered saline or insulin.

or what syringes held what? >> This gets really complicated at trial, and remember that flood [music]. happened, which complicates like some of. the testing on the syringes that they. found later. So, I don't think we get. anything there that we can like take to. the bank. >> Okay, but playing out the prosecution's. theory, if Megan shows up, Casey has the. syringes ready to go, how would Megan know that they were fake. or only had saline? >> So, I don't know. Like maybe I I mean, at this point, right? Like it. >> [music].

>> This all goes back to like what did she. know? What did she not know? What did. she believe? What did she not believe? Like. >> Right. >> maybe at this point she didn't trust. Casey. Like she's lying about so much. stuff. The lies were so outrageous. So, like the prosecution basically theorizes. that at some point. like she made this switch, and she just. took matters into her own hands. How or. when or if Casey was aware, >> Mhm. >> I don't know if we'll really ever know. And by the way, these Google searches. about injecting yourself with saline are.

just one of the many things the. prosecution points to as proof that. Casey was not planning to take her own. life. They say she was planning for her. future. >> [music]. >> The day before her death, she'd gone. grocery shopping buying frozen pizza and. dog treats and car freshener, which the. state argues are like future-oriented. purchases. She was. planning on scheduling getting her other. knee replaced. She was completing. physical therapy for the one that she'd. just gotten. The girl just got a. treadmill, for God's sake.

>> So, do we think that Megan knew Casey. was faking the cancer, too? >> I think so. That's what I'm saying. Like. I. >> To me, it just feels like Megan is. seeing through Casey's lies a little. bit, right? Like. >> I think so. >> She's. >> There's like That's what I'm saying. It's like it's everywhere. I I like So, they at least spent so much time they. they talked so much and like. for years they've been having this plan. that she's like clearly trying to get. out of. Like so, I think she I think she. has to know. I don't know. I don't. >> But but like the thing I can't get past. is like if she knows she's lying about. like. I'm saying little things, but it's like.

cancer. >> Cancer, yeah. >> How did she. trust. Casey's story about the life insurance. policy? Like out of all the things that. she like. >> [music]. >> is having possible doubts about with. what Casey's saying, like this is the. thing that she's like, "No, she's. probably saying the truth like telling. the truth about this.". >> I I think it's because she had that. policy number and like she showed her. some kind of documentation, which I. think it was from like her very, very. old paperwork and was just telling her. that she had been like keeping up on the. policy. >> an old policy, yeah. >> had enough details that it sounded.

legit, I think. And. >> [music]. >> when you want to believe something, it's. easy to convince yourself. And Megan was. hard up. I mean, the prosecution says. that just weeks before Casey's death, Megan had to be spotted 28 bucks at the. grocery store. But mind you, the day. before her and Casey's girls day, they. can see that Megan was looking up. flights, island vacations, [music]. jewelry. >> So it's like she really believed that. she was about to. come into some cash. >> Yeah, so imagine her surprise.

Megan's defense [music] is that she was. just there to support her friend. >> [music]. >> as her friend took her own life by. injecting herself with a bunch of. insulin. >> [music]. >> and then dying a slow death. >> So Casey injected everything herself and. Megan was just a. helpless bystander in the situation. >> This is their argument. [music] And they. point to the physical evidence to try. and support that. Like remember all that.

stuff that Mark found in the Fanta box? That was sent off for DNA testing and. there were profiles on it. Casey's. namely and two others, but none of those. matched Megan. >> I mean she could have worn gloves. >> I yeah, but I think it's harder to. explain why Casey's DNA is on [music]. them. I mean there are ways that you. could make that happen, but like I. I don't it puts a small wrinkle in the. state's case. >> Yeah. >> And this is definitely a win for the. defense. [music] And they use this to. argue that these things and the control.

of the situation was squarely in Casey's. hands. They're basically saying that her lies. were quintessentially designed to. control others. That this was basically. a quasi suicide. Like they agree Casey. probably didn't want to die, but she had. some master plan to try and trick Megan. into thinking she wanted to, but her. plan just went wrong and she died as a. result. >> [music]. >> But still at her own hand. >> Well, if this was like a. quasi suicide, why didn't Megan tell the.

police that from the jump? Like why did. she lie about it? >> They asked, but she said it was because. of her confidential bond with Casey. >> Yeah, what a good friend. >> Yeah, I don't think being a good friend. an accusation that this jury would have. found Megan guilty of. But after almost 8 days of trial and. around 10 hours of deliberation, they do. have a ruling on the aggravated murder. and obstruction of justice charge. >> Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, welcome back.

Has the jury reached a verdict? >> Yes, Your Honor. >> And is it a unanimous verdict? >> Yes, Your. >> Thank you. Will you please hand it to. the bailiff? The clerk will now read. the verdict form. >> State of Utah versus Megan Sunwall. Count one, aggravated murder. We, the. jury, unanimously find the defendant. Megan Sunwall is guilty of manslaughter.

Count two, obstruction of justice. We, the jury, unanimously find the defendant. Megan Sunwall is guilty of obstruction. of justice. Dated the 24th of March, 2026. Signed. the jury foreperson. >> Wait, how did we get to manslaughter? >> Yeah, this was a surprise for me, too. Manslaughter, as you know, is like a far. less serious charge. It carries. sentencing in the ranges of like 1 to 15. years compared to the minimum 25 years. to life for aggravated murder.

>> And. the jury can just downgrade the charges? >> Pretty much. So, juries are actually. given what are called lesser [music]. included offenses. Basically, it's like. a ladder and at the top is the most. serious charge, so aggravated murder. Below it are lesser versions of that. same crime. Murder, manslaughter. [music]. And so, they're instructed to like start. at the top and ask like did the. prosecution prove this, [music] every. single element of this beyond a. reasonable doubt? If the answer is no, then they like move down the ladder. >> Until they like land on yes or not. guilty.

>> The higher charge requires the jury to. believe Megan intentionally and. knowingly caused Kasey's [music] death. If they have any doubt about intent or. planning, they can downgrade the charge. >> [music]. >> So, manslaughter means that the jury. believed Megan caused Casey's death. recklessly, but that they might have. questioned [music] whether she was. actually. the one with the syringe in her hand. >> And did her parents ever face any kind. of charges in relation to any of this? Since they were like. >> [music]. >> in the room?

>> but I don't believe they had any clue. what was going on. They just like showed. up to be with Casey at the end of her. life. So, >> [music]. >> they were never charged with anything, and the only role that they played in. this whole trial were as witnesses. [music]. On May 4th, 2026, a judge sentenced. Megan to 1 to 15 years for manslaughter. and 0 to 5 years for obstruction to be. served [music] concurrently. Megan also. admitted to the court, {quote} "If it. wasn't for my role, Casey likely would. still be alive." {end quote}.

I know today's episode touched on a lot. of [music] tough stuff. So, if you or. someone you know is in crisis or. experiencing suicidal thoughts, please. reach out for help by calling or texting. the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, where trained counselors are available. 24/7 to provide [music] support. Crime Junkie is an Audiochuck. production. I think Chuck would approve.