Chief's mistress motive: 25 years for wife's murder

Kevin West, a former battalion chief for the Camas-Washougal Fire Department, received a 25-year prison sentence on February 27, 2026. This follows his January conviction for the first and second-degree murder of his wife, Marcy West, who died in 2024.

Prosecutors stated West murdered his 48-year-old wife to pursue a relationship with his mistress. His now-fiancée testified to resuming their affair in 2023 after a prior relationship in 2004.

West's daughter eloquently conveyed the profound loss, telling the court, "You were too busy with your mistress to give us the attention we needed." She highlighted how his actions destroyed their family and disrespected her mother's memory.

Conversely, West's son pleaded for leniency, describing his father as empathetic and loving. First responders were initially called to the couple's home on January 8, 2024, under the pretense of a medical emergency, but evidence later revealed homicide.

While West claimed he tried to save his wife and apologized only for his affair, a medical examiner determined Marcy's death was caused by asphyxia with blunt trauma to the neck, classifying it as a homicide.