Crime House 24/7 – Former Fire Battalion Chief On Trial For Wife’s Murder

Host: Vanessa Richardson
Date: January 15, 2026

Episode Overview

This daytime episode of Crime House 24/7, hosted by Vanessa Richardson, delivers comprehensive, up-to-the-minute recaps of major true crime cases currently breaking across the United States. The main focus today is the Washington trial of Kevin West, a former fire battalion chief accused of murdering his wife. Additional segments cover a brutal Minnesota stabbing, a conspiracy to commit murder in Florida, a mid-air emergency leading to federal prison time in Nebraska, and a deep-dive into three still-unsettled murders of legal professionals. Throughout, Vanessa brings a clear, factual tone to the facts and remains focused on the latest legal proceedings, evidence, and unanswered questions behind each case.

Main Case: Kevin West, Former Fire Battalion Chief, On Trial for Wife’s Murder

[Timestamp: 01:54 – 09:46]

Case Background

• Defendant: Kevin West, 52, former battalion chief of Camas-Washougal Fire Department, Washington
• Victim: Marcel “Marcy” West, 49 (wife)
• Charges: First degree murder in the January 8, 2024 death
• Plea: Not guilty

Key Developments

• Death and Initial Response

  • On January 8, 2024, at 4:27am, Kevin West called 911, reporting Marcy was unconscious having a seizure ([01:54]).
  • “Paramedics arrived within minutes... but Marcy West was pronounced dead at about 5:11am that same morning.” ([01:54])

• Investigative Shift

  • Initial medical examiner report showed no obvious foul play.
  • “...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.” ([02:50])
  • A detailed autopsy determined cause of death as asphyxia and blunt trauma to the neck: “injuries inconsistent with a natural seizure but consistent with vascular strangulation.” ([03:30])
  • Death ruled a homicide (March 20, 2024).

• Conflict of Interest Avoided

  • Clark County Sheriff's Office took over the case, due to West’s ties to local fire department.

• Evidence and Motive

  • Investigation uncovered West’s long-running affair with Cynthia Ward.
  • Key evidence: text messages and letters from West suggesting plans to leave Marcy and begin anew with Ward—he even said, “Next year, 2024 will be our year.” ([04:35])
  • Divorce paperwork was ready for January 9, the day after Marcy’s death.

• Legal Action & Trial

  • West arrested March 2024, charged with first degree murder, bond set at $1.5 million.
  • In January 2026, West filed a defamation lawsuit against a neighbor, alleging harassment from their online true crime commentary ([01:54]).

Current Trial Developments

• Witness Testimony
  • Cynthia Ward, West’s fiancée, testified about their relationship and backed his innocence ([06:10]).
• Defense Arguments
  • “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.” ([06:45])
• Prosecution Stance
  • Presented correspondence and relationship details as evidence of motive and opportunity ([07:05]).

Notable Quote

• On the challenge for the defense:

  “The defense acknowledges the affair but maintains west did not kill his wife.” ([06:40])

• On the prosecution's rebuttal:

  “The prosecution has countered by presenting evidence linking West's behavior and communications in the days leading up to Marcy West's death.” ([07:08])

• On the ongoing legal battle:

  “We will continue to follow both the criminal proceedings and Kevin West's recently filed defamation lawsuit, bringing you updates as they develop.” ([09:10])

Other Breaking Crime Stories

Minnesota: Deadly Apartment Stabbing

[09:10 – 10:46]

• Suspect: Jonathan Michael Kupa charged with second degree murder and attempted murder in the death of an apartment maintenance worker and stabbing of a 15-year-old boy.
• Incident: Attack occurred January 10, 2026, at Equinox Apartments, St. Anthony, MN.
• Investigation: Police tracked the suspect via a rideshare driver’s tip; suspect arrested after a car chase in Duluth, MN.
• Status: Bail set at $5 million, motive undetermined, victim remains hospitalized.

Florida: Conspiracy and Staged Home Invasion

[10:46 – 13:45]

• Suspects: Benjamin Garmin and Shawn Landis Range Jr.
• Victim: Porsche Streeter (mother of Range’s three children)
• Allegations: Prosecutors say Range recruited Garmin to kill Streeter; crime scene staged as a home invasion; Range shot in the arm to bolster false narrative.
• Key Quote: “Range said he felt as though he, quote, woke up scratching inside a body bag.” ([12:35])
• Updates: Garmin remains in custody. Range also charged; the case continues.

Nebraska: Mid-Air Emergency and Federal Sentencing

[13:45 – 18:15]

• Offender: Mario Marco Nick Preli (24, Michigan)
• Incident: Attempted to open exit door midair, attacked flight crew, SkyWest flight forced to make emergency landing.
• Sentence: 18 months federal prison for interference, reflecting the seriousness and his prior violent criminal history.
• Judicial Comment:

  “[His] behavior was beyond obnoxious and... created a nightmare for passengers and airline personnel alike.” (Judge Leonard Strand, [16:43])

• Defendant Statement:

  “He told the judge he wanted to turn his life around...” ([17:58])

Night Watch Preview: Unsettling Murders of Legal Professionals

[18:45 – 27:38]

Vanessa transitions to briefly outline three chilling cases of murdered prosecutors and attorneys:

1. Thomas Wales (Seattle, 2001)

Federal Prosecutor Assassinated at Home

• Killed at his desk by a shooter outside his home.
• “The professionalism of the crime—it required patience, familiarity with the victim’s routine, and a willingness to walk away silently.” ([19:10])
• Remains unsolved, $5 million reward offered.

2. Jonathan Luna (Maryland/Pennsylvania, 2003)

Assistant US Attorney, Officially Ruled Suicide

• Found dead with 30+ stab wounds; suicide ruling widely disputed.
• “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.” ([21:24])

3. Robert Cohen (New York, 1976)

High-Profile Defense Attorney, Mafia Hit

• Killed in classic mob hit; Paul Castellano convicted.
• Motive remains cloudy despite conviction.
• “Legal resolution does not always equal narrative resolution.” ([23:40])

Common Thread:

• Each case, despite their different jurisdictions and outcomes, highlights the limits of legal truth—“Some mysteries persist because evidence is missing. Others persist because conclusions were reached before every question felt answered.” ([26:20])

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• On unraveling the week's centerpiece trial:

  “Kevin West was engaged in a long-running affair... letters found in his garage reportedly suggested he planned to move out... the day of Marcy’s death.” ([04:28])

• On the unsolved nature of the Wales murder:

  “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.” ([20:17])

• On the unresolved tension in legal cases:

  “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...” ([23:40])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Main Case – Kevin West Trial: 01:54 – 09:46
• Minnesota Apartment Stabbing: 09:46 – 10:46
• Florida Staged Murder Case: 10:46 – 13:45
• Nebraska Airplane Emergency: 13:45 – 18:15
• Legal Professionals Murdered – Night Watch Preview: 18:45 – 27:38

Conclusion

Tone: Factual, urgent, and meticulous; the language is clear and stays true to the sobering realities of crime reporting.

Vanessa Richardson keeps listeners tightly focused on the facts, legal developments, and major questions in each story, promising ongoing coverage as cases develop.