Kevin West

Little has been publicly released about Kevin West's early life, education, or upbringing.

West spent much of his adult life working as a firefighter and paramedic, eventually rising to the rank of battalion chief with the Camas-Washougal Fire Department in Washington State. He was regarded as an experienced emergency responder and retired prior to his arrest.

On the morning of 8 January 2024, Kevin West called 911 from the family home in Washougal, Washington, claiming that his 48-year-old wife, Marcelle "Marcy" West, had suffered a seizure and had stopped breathing.

Emergency responders attempted to revive Marcy but she was pronounced dead. Although West insisted his wife had died from a medical emergency, investigators quickly became suspicious after inconsistencies emerged in his account and the medical examiner identified injuries consistent with strangulation. An autopsy concluded that Marcy had died from asphyxia caused by blunt force trauma to the neck, and her death was ruled a homicide.

Prosecutors alleged West murdered his wife so he could pursue a long-term affair with Cynthia Ward. During the trial, evidence showed the relationship had become increasingly serious and that West had been planning to leave his wife. After a two-week trial, a Clark County jury found him guilty of first-degree and second-degree murder.

Investigators determined that West strangled his wife inside their home before attempting to disguise the killing as a sudden medical emergency.

Using his experience as a firefighter and paramedic, he called emergency services and reported that Marcy had suffered a seizure, performing CPR before first responders arrived. Prosecutors argued the emergency call and attempted resuscitation were intended to conceal the homicide and create the appearance of a natural death.

Following Marcy West's death, detectives launched a homicide investigation after the autopsy contradicted Kevin West's account of events.

Investigators uncovered evidence of West's affair with Cynthia Ward, including text messages and letters outlining plans for the couple's future together. Witnesses also described marital difficulties and financial pressures within the marriage.

West was arrested in March 2024 and charged with first-degree murder. Following his trial in January 2026, the jury deliberated for just over two hours before returning guilty verdicts on first- and second-degree murder charges.

Kevin West's trial began in January 2026 in Clark County Superior Court.

The prosecution argued that West intentionally strangled his wife to pursue his relationship with Cynthia Ward, while the defence maintained Marcy had suffered a fatal seizure and denied any homicide had occurred.

The jury rejected the defence's explanation and convicted West of first-degree and second-degree murder, both designated as domestic violence offences. In February 2026, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for first-degree murder.

The case attracted significant attention because Kevin West had spent decades serving as a respected firefighter and emergency medical responder. Prosecutors argued that he exploited his medical knowledge in an attempt to disguise the homicide as a natural medical event.

During sentencing, the couple's adult children delivered emotional victim impact statements, with one condemning their father's actions while the other asked the court for leniency. The case remains one of Washington State's most high-profile domestic homicide prosecutions involving a first responder.