At a Glance
- Kevin West, 52, convicted of first- and second-degree murder for strangling wife Marcy, 48, in January 2024
- Medical examiner ruled death homicide by asphyxia with blunt neck trauma
- Prosecutors proved he planned to leave wife for fiancée he rekindled 20-year relationship with
- Why it matters: Trusted first responder abused position of power in calculated domestic killing
A two-week murder trial ended with a former Camas-Washougal Fire Department battalion chief found guilty of strangling his wife while carrying on a secret affair.
Kevin West, 52, stood silent as a Clark County jury delivered first- and second-degree murder convictions Tuesday, January 20, for the January 8, 2024 death of Marcelle “Marcy” West, 48.
The 911 Call That Raised Suspicion
At 7:42 a.m. on Jan. 8, West dialed 911 claiming his wife suffered a seizure, stopped breathing, and that he performed CPR. First responders arrived within minutes, continued life-saving efforts, and pronounced her dead at the scene, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
The death initially appeared medical. Within days, however, multiple people contacted detectives voicing “concerns about Kevin and Marcy’s potential relationship issues and worries that her death may not have been natural,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Autopsy Reveals Homicide
The Clark County Medical Examiner’s findings left no doubt:
- Cause of death: Asphyxia
- Contributing factor: Blunt trauma to the neck
- Manner: Homicide
Prosecutors argued West used his firefighter training to stage the scene and mislead first responders.
Affair Exposed During Trial
Court testimony revealed West had rekindled a relationship with Cynthia Ward, now his fiancée. Ward told jurors she and West had known each other 20 years and had a brief sexual relationship in 2004 while he was married. They reconnected in 2023, began secretly meeting despite both being in other relationships, and grew serious.
“Eventually, he was going to leave Marcy, at some point,” Ward testified. “I don’t know when that would have been.”
Defense attorneys conceded the affair but argued Marcy’s recurring headaches triggered a fatal seizure. Prosecutors countered that the timeline-planning to leave his wife and the staged 911 call-proved intent.
Key Evidence Against Kevin West
| Evidence | Prosecution Use |
|---|---|
| Asphyxia with neck trauma | Showed deliberate strangulation, not seizure |
| Secret affair | Established motive and intent to leave wife |
| Firefighter training | Demonstrated knowledge to stage scene |
| Immediate relationship concerns | Multiple tipsters doubted natural death |
Family and Friends React
Kevin and Marcy shared two adult children. Marcy’s friend Wendy Chun told KOIN justice was served.
“There were other ways that he could have handled the situation instead of murdering Marcy,” Chun said. “And I feel really bad for the kids … they lose both parents in this situation.”
Next Steps
West remains in custody pending sentencing set for February 27. He faces a standard range of 20 to 28 years under Washington’s murder guidelines, though the judge can impose more.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
