Grafton, West Virginia – A woman from West Virginia is facing murder charges nearly two years after she allegedly killed her 81-year-old mother by injecting her with insulin, even though her mother was not diabetic.
Kelly Moore, now 61, was arrested and charged with murder after a detailed investigation into the May 2023 death of her mother, Ethel Moore, at their home in Grafton.
What Happened?
On the night of May 25, 2023, police responded to a cardiac arrest call at Ethel Moore’s home. Sadly, Ethel was found dead when officers arrived.
At the time, Kelly Moore told police her mother had a high blood sugar level of 250, so she gave her 20 units of insulin — the same insulin prescribed to herself, not to her mother. She injected it into Ethel’s shoulder, claiming her mother was feeling unwell and had multiple health issues, including heart problems, arthritis, and dementia.
Family Tensions and New Details
Court documents revealed that Ethel Moore had called her other daughter, who lives in Florida, on the day of her death. Ethel reportedly said that Kelly “wasn’t doing anything” to care for her. That phone call alarmed the sister, who tried calling for help.
Police noted that Kelly seemed annoyed when speaking about her mother’s health, saying there was “all kinds of s*** wrong with her.”
Despite Kelly claiming her actions were intended to help, it was later confirmed that Ethel was not prescribed insulin and did not have diabetes.
Cause of Death and Arrest
An autopsy confirmed that Ethel Moore died from insulin shock, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. The insulin Kelly injected, though medically used for her own diabetes, was not safe for her 81-year-old mother, who weighed just 130 pounds compared to Kelly’s 275 pounds.
Ethel’s other daughter told investigators she had never been told about the insulin injection and initially believed their mother had died due to complications from her recent hip surgery.
Now, Kelly Moore has been officially charged with murder and is being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.
Remembering Ethel Moore
According to her obituary, Ethel Moore was a warm, friendly woman who enjoyed simple pleasures like going to Walmart and McDonald’s, chatting with strangers, and reading books. She cherished time with her family and was described as loving and sociable.