GRAFTON, W.Va. (WDTV/Gray News) – A West Virginia woman has been arrested for allegedly injecting her elderly mother with a fatal dose of insulin.
Authorities say Kelly Moore, 61, of Arthurdale, was living with her 82-year-old mother, Ethel Moore, in Grafton when the incident occurred in May 2023. According to the Grafton Police Department, Kelly injected her mother with 20 units of her personal insulin, which was not prescribed to Ethel, resulting in her death.
Emergency Response and Arrest
On May 25, 2023, at approximately 11:50 p.m., police responded to a cardiac arrest call at 40 Howard Street in Grafton. When officers arrived, they found Ethel Moore unresponsive and deceased.
Investigators say Kelly Moore seemed frustrated when recounting the events, stating that her mother had been feeling unwell for days. She claimed Ethel’s blood sugar level was 250, so she administered insulin, despite it not being prescribed to her.
Court documents reveal Kelly made dismissive comments about her mother’s health, saying she had “all kinds of s— wrong with her,” including heart disease, arthritis, and dementia.
Family Dynamics and Investigation
Kelly Moore had reportedly been living with her mother for over a year after being “elected” to care for her, as she was the only unmarried sibling. She claimed her sister, who lives in Florida, had accused her of not providing adequate care for their mother.
According to the autopsy, Ethel Moore weighed approximately 130 pounds, while Kelly Moore, weighing 275 pounds, injected 20 units of insulin into her mother’s shoulder. Kelly typically administered 30 units into her own stomach, court records show.
The medical examiner determined that Ethel Moore’s cause of death was insulin shock and ruled it a homicide.
Legal Proceedings
Despite initial speculation that complications from a recent hip replacement may have caused Ethel Moore’s death, authorities concluded that insulin overdose was the cause.
Kelly Moore was arrested on Tuesday and charged with murder. She has been booked into Tygart Valley Regional Jail with no bond set.
