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Fire Chief Convicted in Wife's Strangulation
22 Jan
Summary
- Former fire chief convicted of first and second-degree murder.
- Prosecutors argued an affair was the motive for the killing.
- Medical examiner ruled death a homicide due to asphyxia.
A Clark County jury convicted former fire department battalion chief Kevin West, 52, of first and second-degree murder on Tuesday, January 20th. The conviction stems from the January 8, 2024, strangling death of his 48-year-old wife, Marcelle "Marcy" West.
During the two-week trial, prosecutors presented evidence suggesting Kevin West was having an affair and intended to leave his wife. His defense team did not deny the affair but argued Marcy West's death was a result of a seizure caused by recurring headaches.
A medical examiner's report concluded that Marcy West died from asphyxia with blunt trauma to the neck, officially classifying the manner of death as homicide. Kevin West's fiancée testified about their affair, which began in 2023 while both were in other relationships.
Kevin West is expected to be sentenced on February 27th. Friends of the victim expressed that justice has been served but also lamented the impact on their two adult children.
