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Hi Crime House community, it's Vanessa Richardson. Exciting news. Conspiracy theories, cults and crimes is leveling up. Starting the week of January 12th, you'll be getting two episodes every week. Wednesdays we unravel the conspiracy or the cult and on Fridays we look at a corresponding crime. Every week has a theme. Tech, bioterror, power, paranoia, you name it. Follow conspiracy theories, cults and crimes now on your podcast app because you're about to dive deeper, get weirder and go darker than ever before.
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This is Crime House.
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Good morning everyone. We have multiple breaking true crime cases this morning that you need to know about. And we're starting with the biggest one. It's in Washington. A former fire battalion chief is facing first degree murder charges for the death of his wife and new legal moves add another layer to the trial. This is Crime House 24 7, your nonstop source for the biggest crime cases developing right now. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Vanessa Richardson and we have quite a lineup for you today. Here's what you need to know.
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Okay, let's get right into it. Kevin West, a 52 year old former fire department battalion chief in Washington is on trial today for the January 8, 2024 death of his wife, 49 year old Marcel Marcy West. Facing first degree murder charges, west entered a not guilty plea and continues to fight back. On January 12, 2026, he filed a defamation lawsuit against his neighbor. He that his neighbor's online true crime videos and commentary about his case have harmed his reputation and amounted to harassment. But West's criminal case centers on what happened nearly two years earlier. On the morning of January 8, 2024 at approximately 4:27am first responders from the Kamus Washougal Fire Department and the Washougal Police Department were dispatched to a residence on 34th street after 1 of the fire department's very own Kevin west called 911 reporting that wife was unconscious and having a seizure. Paramedics arrived within minutes and began life saving measures including CPR and defibrillation attempts. Despite their efforts, Marcy west was pronounced dead at about 5:11am that same morning. Initially, the medical examiner did not identify overt signs of foul play and her death appeared to be a medical emergency. However, in the days that followed, several community members and acquaintances contacted law enforcement with concerns that her death not have been natural given reported tension in the couple's relationship. As the investigation progressed, the medical examiner's office conducted a more detailed examination, ultimately ruling on March 20, 2024 that the cause of death was asphyxia with blunt trauma to the neck injuries inconsistent with a natural seizure but consistent with vascular strangulation. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. Medical experts testified that vascular strangulation involves pressure to the neck that restricts blood flow to the brain and said the injuries were consistent with force applied close to the time of Marcy West's death. Following that ruling, Clark County Sheriff's Office detectives took over the investigation to avoid conflict of interest given West's position with the fire department, detectives conducted interviews and executed search warrants on the west home and both spouses. Cell phones and Investigators discovered that Kevin west was engaged in a long running affair with a woman identified as Cynthia Ward. Text messages recovered from West's phone along with letters found in his garage reportedly suggested he planned to move out of the family home on January 8, the day of Marcy's death, and finalize divorce paperwork on January 9th. One of his letters to Ward allegedly stated, Next year, 2024 will be our year. In March 2024, west was formally arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection with his wife's death. Bond was set at $1.5 million. The trial is being held at Clark County Superior Court and jurors have heard opening statements and testimony from law enforcement, medical experts and witnesses connected to West's personal life. The defense acknowledges the affair but maintains west did not kill his wife. In opening statements, his lawyer argued that ongoing health issues and external causes, including a massage she recently received, could explain the injuries and her death and that west attempted to save her using his medical training. During the current trial in Clark County Superior Court, witnesses including West's fiance, Cynthia Ward, have taken the stand. Ward testified about the relationship and West's plans to leave his marriage and has publicly supported West's account backing his claim that he did not kill his wife. The prosecution has countered by presenting evidence linking West's behavior and communications in the days leading up to Marcy West's death. As of this recording, the trial remains ongoing in Clark County Superior Court and we will continue to follow both the criminal proceedings and Kevin West's recently filed defamation lawsuit, bringing you updates as they develop. We turn now to Minnesota where investigators are piecing together a deadly apartment building stabbing that unfolded in the early morning hours. A 31 year old Minnesota man is now facing murder charges in a deadly stabbing inside a St. Anthony apartment building, an attack that left an apartment maintenance worker dead and a 15 year old boy seriously injured, according to court records filed this week. Prosecutors say Jonathan Michael Kupa has been charged with second degree murder and attempted second degree murder in connection with the attack, which happened in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 10, 2020 at the Equinox Apartments in St. Anthony. Police were dispatched to the building shortly before 5am after receiving a 911 call reporting a stabbing on the third floor. When officers arrived, they found a 45 year old maintenance worker suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Nearby, officers also located the teenager who had been stabbed repeatedly in the arms, chest, neck and head. He was rushed to a hospital with life threatening injur where he later underwent emergency treatment, according to the criminal complaint. The teen told investigators that they were responding to the sound of power tools being used in the hallway when they encountered Koopa. The complaint alleges Koopa emerged from an apartment across the hall and started attacking them with a sharp object described as resembling a screwdriver. Investigators say the teen was stabbed multiple times as he attempted to defend himself before the maintenance workers stepped in to try to stop the assault. Authorities say he sustained fatal injuries during that confrontation. After the stabbing, Koopa was not immediately located. Police say his movements were later traced with help from a ride share driver who reported picking up a man near the apartment complex around 5:30am the driver told police the passenger appeared sweaty, underdressed for the weather and made a strange comment that his phone was covered in fe fish guts. The driver also reported the man was carrying a bag containing items that appeared to include blood stained clothing and rope, according to charging documents. Investigators later learned that Koopa had borrowed his father's vehicle earlier that morning. His father contacted police after becoming concerned and unable to locate him. Law enforcement later identified the vehicle. In Duluth, Minnesota, more than 150 miles north of St. Anthony, police attempted a traffic stop, but authorities say Koopa fled, eventually crashing his vehicle. He was taken into custody without further incident and booked into the Ramsey County Jail, court records show. Koopa's bail has been set at $5 million. Prosecutors have not publicly identified a motive for the attack and Koopa has not yet entered a plea. His attorney has not commented on the charges. The teenage victim remains hospitalized while investigators continue reviewing evidence and preparing for upcoming court proceedings. As investigators continue building their case in Minnesota, prosecutors in Florida are now moving forward in a separate homicide investigation involving the killing of a mother and a staged crime scene.
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A Florida man who helped kill the mother of another man's three children and then staged the scene as a home invasion is now being brought to justice. According to court records reviewed by law and crime, 26 year old Benjamin Garmin was transferred to Orange County, Florida custody on January 10, 2026 and is scheduled to be arraigned January 26th. On February 1st degree murder charges in the January 2024 death of 30 year old Porsche Streeter. Prosecutors allege Garmin conspired with 32 year old Shawn Landis Range Jr. The father of Streeter's three children, to carry out the killing inside the Streeter's Orlando apartment, then staged the shooting to look like a home invasion, according to the probable cause affidavit. Deputies began investigating on January 13, 2024 after they found Streeter dead in her home with 10 gunshot W. Range was also found at the scene with a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Range initially told investigators that an unknown intruder entered the residence and shot both him and Streeter. He claimed the intruder stole $2,000 in cash and three cell phones and that he chased the suspect even though he was unarmed. Range claimed he eventually caught up to the man and was able to wrestle the stolen cell phones away. Detectives later said that account did not match the physical or digital evidence. Court records cited by law and crime show investigators spent more than a year reviewing surveillance footage, phone records and witness statements, eventually concluding the home invasion story was staged. Here's what prosecutors allege went down Range recruited Garmin to carry out the killing of Streeter, the mother of Range's three children, and that after the shooting, the two men returned to the apartment so Garmin could shoot Range in the arm, an apparent attempt to support the false narrative that Range was also a victim. Prosecutors also cited statements Range allegedly made after the killing. According to court records, Range said he felt as though he, quote, woke up scratching inside a body bag. A figurative comment, not a literal account. Investigators say they view the statement as evidence of consciousness of guilt rather than a reaction consistent with a real home invasion attack. The affidavit also notes investigators identified a custody dispute and relationship tension between Range and Streeter leading up to her death, though the charges focus on the alleged conspiracy to murder her. Although our most recent update focuses on Garmin's involvement in the murder scheme, Range has also been charged in connection with Streeter's killing. His case remains pending in Orange county, where prosecutors allege he orchestrated the plot that led to her death. Garmin's prior federal weapons case was continued so sentencing could be delayed while the state murder case proceeds. He remains in custody in Orange County, Florida and is expected back in court on January 26, 2026. From a homicide investigation in Florida, we turn northwest to Nebraska where a man who triggered a mid air emergency on a flight is learning his fate in federal court. Federal prosecutors have announced this week that a man has been sentenced to Federal Prison. On July 17, 2025, a commercial airplane was forced to make an emergency landing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa after the passenger began fighting with flight crew and attempting to open an exit door midair. 24 year old Mario Marco Nick Preli of Shelby Township, Michigan was sentenced on January 13, 2026 to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to interference with flight crew members and attendants. Officials said the sentence comes more year after the incident, which dramatically unfolded last July aboard a SkyWest Airlines flight bound for Detroit, according to the federal complaint and court records. The trouble started before takeoff on the SkyWest flight from Omaha, Nebraska, when flight attendants reported concerns about Nick Prey's behavior. Though they initially believed the situation was under control once the plane was in the air, authorities say Nick Prei became combative, leaving his seat against crew instructions and engaging in Escalade disruptive conduct. About 20 miles outside Cedar Rapids, flight attendants told the pilot that Nick Preli had attempted to open an emergency exit door mid flight and was physically struggling with crew members. The pilot then made an emergency request to land at Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids to ensure the safety of the aircraft and everyone on board. While the aircraft was descending, fellow passengers and flight attendants worked together to keep Nick Preli from breaching the exit and to contain the disturbance. Three passengers volunteered to assist the crew in subduing him after the pilot asked if anyone on the plane could help. Once the flight safely landed at Eastern Iowa Airport, local law enforcement took Nick Preli into custody. Police said that during the confrontation and his arrest, several crew members and passengers reported that he pushed, grabbed and threatened to kill flight attendants and others who tried to restrain him. Court records showed that Nick Prelai was carrying Xanax pills concealed on his person, though a judge rejected the defense's assertion at sentencing that drug use explained his behavior, saying there was no medical evidence to support that claim. Nick Prelai previously entered a guilty plea in Federal Court on September 23, 2025, to the single federal count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years under federal law. At Monday's hearing in federal court In Cedar Rapids, U.S. district Judge Leonard Strand imposed an 18 month prison term, which was at the upper end of the recommended federal sentencing guidelines. The judge noted the behavior was beyond obnoxious and described the incident as creating a nightmare for passengers and airline personnel alike. Prosecutors said the sentence reflected not only the seriousness of Nick Prelai's conduct, but but also his prior criminal history, which includes convictions for assault, domestic violence and breaking and entering that raised concerns for the court. During the hearing, Nick Prelay apologized to the passengers and their families who were aboard the flight and expressed remorse for his actions. He told the judge he wanted to turn his life around after spending six months in county jail waiting for sentencing in the 2025 incident, no passengers were seriously injured and the flight eventually resumed its journey to Detroit once officials ensured the plane and passengers were safe. SkyWest Airlines has said it maintains a zero tolerance policy for unruly behavior, emphasizing that safety for customers and crew is its top priority. Federal authorities, including the FBI, took part in the investigation, underscoring how seriously regulators and law enforcement treat threats to aviation safety.
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Lastly, let me tell you about what else is happening at Crime House today. Murder True Crime Stories is covering the mysterious case of Thomas Wales, a federal prosecutor assassinated in his own home. When someone inside the justice system is murdered, there's an expectation that the truth will surface quickly. Prosecutors, lawyers and judges live in a world of records, witnesses and procedure. Their lives are documented, their work leaves trails. And yet some of the most enduring mysteries in true crime involve the very people tasked with enforcing the law. Today we're looking at three real murder cases involving prosecutors and lawyers, cases that are officially unsolved, officially closed, but disputed or technically solved, yet still deeply unsettling. These are not conspiracy theories. They're documented, true crimes that continue to raise serious unanswered questions. Number one Thomas Wales, the federal prosecutor assassinated at home in Seattle in 2001. Thomas Wales was an assistant United States attorney in Seattle who specialized in white collar crime, fraud and financial investigations. He wasn't known for dramatic courtroom moments or headline grabbing trials. His work quieter, methodical and often aimed at uncovering complex financial wrongdoing, the kind of cases that threaten money, influence and reputation rather than public safety in an obvious way. On the night of October 11, 2001, just one month after the September 11 attacks, Wales was working late in the basement of his home. He was seated at his desk when someone fired multiple shots through a basement window from outside the house. Wales was struck and killed almost instantly. The shooter never entered the home, never confronted him, and left without being seen. Nothing was stolen, there was no sign of forced entry. There was no evidence of a personal dispute or domestic issue. The positioning of the shots suggested the killer knew where Wales would be sitting and waited for the right moment. Despite an extensive investigation involving the FBI and the Department of Justice, the case has never been solved. Very little usable forensic evidence was recovered and no weapon has ever been found. The federal government has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the case, offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to an arrest and conviction, one of the largest rewards ever offered for the murder of a federal prosecutor. What makes the Wales case especially disturbing is the professionalism of the crime. This wasn't impulsive or chaotic violence. It required patience Familiarity with the victim's routine, and a willingness to wait and walk away silently. More than two decades later, the murder of a sitting federal prosecutor remains one of the most chilling examples of how targeted violence can defeat even the most sophisticated investigative systems. Number two, Jonathan Luna. A prosecutor's death ruled a suicide, but still deeply disputed In Pennsylvania in 2003, Jonathan Luna was a 38 year old Assistant US Attorney in Maryland with a reputation as a rising star. He worked on complex financial cases, including bank fraud and public corruption, and was well regarded by colleagues. By all outward appearances, his career was on an upward trajectory. On the night of December 3, 2003, Luna left his office unusually late. Over the next several hours, his movements became increasingly difficult to explain. His car was tracked through tol booths and gas stations across Maryland and into Pennsylvania. His credit card was used multiple times along the route. The next morning, Luna's body was discovered in a creek in rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He'd suffered more than 30 stab wounds to his neck, chest and abdomen. His car was found nearby, partially submerged, with evidence suggesting a struggle had taken place inside the vehicle. After an extensive investigation involving the FBI and state authorities, officials ruled Luna's death a suicide, concluding that he had inflicted the wounds on himself. That conclusion immediately sparked controversy. Medical professionals, journalists and legal observers questioned how someone could inflict that number of wounds on themselves, particularly given the physical mechanics involved. Others pointed to the unusual travel route and unexplained stops. Despite these concerns, multiple official reviews upheld the suicide determination and the case was formally closed. What makes the Luna case so unsettling isn't the absence of an official explanation. It's the persistence of doubt, even after the explanation was issued. The case highlights how once a determination is made by authorities, reopening or relitigating that conclusion becomes nearly impossible, even when questions remain unanswered. Number three, Robert Cohen, the defense attorney whose solved murder still leaves critical questions in New York. In 1976, Robert Cohen was a prominent defense attorney in New York City. Known for representing high profile clients, including individuals connected to organized crime. He operated in a legal world where criminal defense money and underworld politics frequently intersected. And he was well aware of the risks that came with that territory. On March 18, 1976, Cohen was shot and killed outside his Manhattan home in what immediately appeared to be a professional hit. The killing was efficient, targeted and carried out in a manner consistent with organized crime executions of the era. Unlike the other cases discussed here, Cohen's murder was eventually resolved in court. In 1985, mafia boss Paul Castellano was convicted of ordering Cohen's killing. The conviction established responsibility at the highest level and appeared on paper to close the case. But the mystery didn't disappear. The central question, why Cohen was killed has never been definitively answered. Prosecutors argued that Castellano believed Cohen was cooperating with law enforcement. Other accounts suggest financial disputes, internal mafia power struggles, or fears about information Cohen possessed unrelated to cooperation. The Cohen case illustrates a critical distinction in true legal resolution does not always equal narrative resolution. Even when the justice system identifies who ordered a murder, the deeper motivations behind it can remain obscured by fear, secrecy, and the limits of testimony. These three cases span decades and jurisdictions, but they share something in common. Each involves a person whose job was to navigate the law and whose death expose the limits of what the law can prove. Some mysteries persist because evidence is missing. Others persist because conclusions were reached before every question felt answered. And some persist because knowing who was responsible still doesn't tell us why. For the in depth story behind Thomas Wales and his shocking murder, head over to our Crime House feed for the latest episode of Murder True Crime Stories. You've been listening to crime house 247 bringing you breaking crime news. I'm Vanessa Richardson. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more developing stories. Stay safe and thanks for listening. Looking for your next listen. Hi, it's Vanessa Richardson and I have exciting news. Conspiracy theories, Cults and crimes is leveling up. Starting the week of January 12th, you'll begin getting two episodes every week. Wednesdays we unravel the conspiracy or the cult, and on Fridays we look at a corresponding crime. Follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen.