BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The fifth day of Natalie Cochran’s murder trial brought critical testimony and significant developments as the State rested its case-in-chief. Cochran, accused of administering a fatal dose of insulin to her husband, Michael Cochran, in 2019, is charged with first-degree murder.
Key Testimony and Evidence
West Virginia State Police Lt. Timothy Bledsoe, the lead investigator in Michael Cochran’s death, testified that Natalie gave him conflicting accounts of what happened the day her husband collapsed:
- April 8, 2019 Interview: Natalie claimed Michael collapsed in the kitchen after she heard a loud thud. She said she found a bottle of clomiphene citrate, a testosterone-boosting supplement, on the counter.
- May 7, 2019 Interview: Natalie stated Michael hit his head on a countertop after collapsing in the kitchen. This time, she said the clomiphene citrate was in a cabinet.
- May 8, 2019 Interview: Natalie alleged Michael had injected himself with insulin in the back and later collapsed in the kitchen after waking up from a nap.
Bledsoe also testified that text messages between the couple suggested Michael was unaware of the Ponzi scheme Natalie was operating and believed they were planning a trip to Lynchburg, Virginia, to secure investment money.
Dr. Paul Uribe, a forensic pathologist, provided critical testimony that Michael’s blood glucose level of 21 was dangerously low and consistent with being administered a massive dose of insulin. Uribe ruled Michael’s death a homicide, asserting that his glucose levels continued to plummet despite medical intervention, indicating the effects of an overwhelming insulin dose.
Defense Motion for Acquittal Denied
At the close of the State’s case, the defense moved for a judgment of acquittal, arguing that no direct or circumstantial evidence proved premeditated murder. The judge denied the motion, citing Dr. Uribe’s expert opinion that Michael’s death was consistent with an intentional overdose of insulin.
Cochran to Testify
The court confirmed that Natalie Cochran intends to testify in her own defense. The judge advised her of her rights in a closed colloquy, later placing it on the record without jurors or cameras present.
The trial continues as the defense begins presenting its case. Natalie Cochran faces the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted.
