In a tragic and unsettling case in West Virginia, 61-year-old Kelly M. has pleaded guilty to killing her 81-year-old mother, Ethel M., by administering a fatal dose of insulin. The incident took place after a heated argument between mother and daughter, leading to Ethel’s death from insulin shock.
Kelly admitted to giving her mother 20 units of insulin, which was not prescribed to her, and it ultimately resulted in her death. Kelly had been initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter earlier this month. As part of a plea deal, she now faces a sentence ranging from three to 15 years in prison.
The Fatal Argument and Insulin Injection
The tragic incident occurred on May 25, 2023, when Kelly and her mother, Ethel, got into a heated argument. In a fit of rage, Kelly injected her frail mother with 20 units of insulin, even though Ethel, a diabetic, did not have a prescription for the drug.
The insulin shock caused Ethel, who had recently undergone hip surgery, to go into cardiac arrest and die. Although Kelly’s actions were directly responsible for her mother’s death, the prosecutors noted that there was no evidence of premeditation or malice, which would have been necessary for a murder conviction. As a result, Kelly was charged with voluntary manslaughter instead of murder.
Legal Challenges and Plea Deal
Prosecutor J. Bord explained that due to weaknesses in the law and the nature of the case, it was difficult to pursue a murder charge. One significant issue was that West Virginia law does not recognize insulin as a poison, complicating the case for prosecutors.
Additionally, there was the possibility that a jury could have convicted Kelly of only involuntary manslaughter, a misdemeanor charge. With these legal challenges in mind, Kelly entered a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter, which is a felony that carries a potential prison sentence of three to 15 years.
Investigation and Discovery
The investigation began when Kelly called 911 late in the evening on May 25, 2023, after her mother went into cardiac arrest. Emergency responders arrived at the apartment shared by Kelly and Ethel, where they found Ethel already deceased.
Kelly admitted to giving her mother the fatal dose of insulin, raising immediate suspicion. One of the EMTs, who arrived at the scene, even commented, “I think she really killed her.”
According to Kelly, Ethel’s blood sugar had been high that day, prompting Kelly to inject her mother with 20 units of insulin from her own supply.
Despite both mother and daughter being diabetic, Kelly’s dosage was significantly higher than what Ethel’s fragile body could handle. The autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was insulin shock, which led to the death being ruled a homicide.
Kelly’s Emotional Response and Family’s Initial Belief
After the incident, Kelly called 911 and then reportedly sat sobbing under a blanket while waiting for the medical examiner to arrive. Initially, Kelly did not mention the insulin injection to her sister, leading the family to believe Ethel’s death was due to complications from her recent hip surgery.
It wasn’t until March 2024, when Kelly’s sister questioned the circumstances of the death and spoke to investigators, that the truth came to light. The investigation revealed the deadly insulin injection, and Kelly was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
Sentencing and the Ongoing Case
Kelly’s sentencing hearing is yet to be scheduled, as a pre-sentencing report must first be completed. Under the plea agreement, she faces a sentence of three to 15 years in prison.
While the case has been resolved legally, it raises serious questions about the tragic consequences of familial conflict and the impact of impulsive decisions. The loss of Ethel M. has deeply affected the family, and Kelly will now have to face the consequences of her actions in the courtroom.