A West Virginia woman is facing murder charges nearly two years after allegedly causing the death of her 81-year-old mother by injecting her with insulin.
Kelly Moore, 61, had been living with her mother, Ethel Moore, in Grafton since May 2023. She had been chosen as her caregiver because she was unmarried and there was no one else available to take on the responsibility, according to the Grafton Police Department.
On the night of May 25, 2023, authorities responded to a call reporting cardiac arrest and arrived to find Ethel Moore deceased.
Kelly Moore informed officers that her mother’s blood sugar had spiked to 250, prompting her to administer 20 units of her own insulin. She also mentioned that her mother, who had recently undergone hip replacement surgery, had been feeling unwell for several days.
While speaking with police about her mother’s health issues, officers noted that Moore appeared irritated, according to court documents obtained by Law&Crime.
Moore described her mother’s various ailments, including heart problems, arthritis, and dementia, stating that she had “all kinds of s*** wrong with her,” which, she explained, was why she had moved in to care for her.
It was later revealed that on the day of her death, Ethel Moore had called her other daughter, who lived in Florida, and complained that Kelly Moore “wasn’t doing anything for her,” according to the affidavit. Concerned, the sister contacted Kelly from Florida, “freaking out” over the situation.
Moore reportedly checked her mother’s blood sugar twice that day and found it high on both occasions, which led her to inject 20 units of insulin into her mother’s shoulder.
Although Moore, who weighs around 275 pounds, has diabetes and a prescription for insulin, police noted that her mother, who weighed only 130 pounds, did not have diabetes and had not been prescribed insulin.
An autopsy confirmed that Ethel Moore died from insulin shock, and her death was ruled a homicide.
Kelly Moore’s sister stated that she was never informed about the insulin injection, leading her to initially believe their mother had passed away due to complications from hip surgery, according to court records.
Moore has been charged with murder and is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.
Ethel Moore’s obituary described her as someone who enjoyed visiting Walmart and McDonald’s, where she loved chatting with people. She also liked reading, spending time with her family, and cherishing the moments she shared with them.
