VANCOUVER, Wash. (Court TV) — A former fire battalion chief is facing life in prison after a jury convicted him of murdering his wife to carry on an affair.
Kevin West was found guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree murder in the January 2024 death of his wife, 49-year-old Marcy West. Prosecutors argued that Kevin strangled Marcy to death in their home.
Kevin West tesifies in his murder trial. (Court TV)
Kevin called 911 on Jan. 8 around 4:30 a.m. to report that his wife was unconscious and having a seizure, according to testimony. She was pronounced dead around 5:11 a.m.
In an interview with police, Kevin said the couple had a regular night watching movies and eating takeout before Marcy complained of a headache and took ibuprofen. Kevin told investigators that Marcy vomited before going to sleep, but had no other complaints and decided to go to bed.
A medical examiner noted injuries on Marcy’s body consistent with strangulation, including bruises under her jawline and earlobes, brain swelling and bilateral subcutaneous hemorrhaging on her neck, documents state. Her death was later ruled as a homicide caused by asphyxia due to blunt neck trauma.
An investigation further revealed that Kevin was having an affair with Cynthia Ward, whom he met “in the early 2000s.” Kevin initially told authorities he had no plans to leave Marcy; however, text messages recovered from his cellphone allegedly indicated he planned to move out of the home on Jan. 8 and finish divorce papers the following day. Letters were also found in Kevin’s garage, addressed to Ward, including one that read, “Next year, 2024 will be our year. We will be together celebrating everyday with love and understanding of what it means for you and I to be together. Our Story will ring in the New Year loud for all to hear!”
At trial, Kevin maintained he did not kill his wife. The defense argued Marcy suffered from untreated maladies for which she refused to seek treatment, including debilitating migraines. Attorney Brian Walker said an intense massage from Kevin’s son before she died could have triggered her seizure, and that the failures of first responders may have contributed to her death.
At the time of Marcy’s death, Kevin was a battalion chief for the Camas-Washougal Fire Department.
Court documents and testimony revealed that since his arrest, Kevin and Ward have become engaged.
Kevin faces life in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Feb. 27.
