Episode 125: The Murder of Kat West

A suburban wife and mom turned to the internet to make a little cash with a side hustle. But when she ended up dead outside her home, the media swarmed and focused on her adult-themed business. To catch her killer, police looked no further than her own husband as the culprit. Was this a tragic accident as her husband claimed, or was the answer something more sinister? This week’s episode is the Murder of Kat West.

SOURCES

Kat West trial: Jeff West found guilty of reckless manslaughter, Alabama Advance Local Media: https://www.al.com/news/2020/11/kat-wests-mother-testifies-in-jeff-wests-defense-at-murder-trial.html

Defense argues Kat West's death an accidental fall, ABC 33/40 News: https://abc3340.com/news/local/defense-argues-kat-wests-death-an-accidental-fall-in-opening-statements-of-murder-trial

Texts reveal fights, nude pics between Kat West, husband in weeks leading up to her death, ABC 33/40 News: https://abc3340.com/news/local/texts-reveal-fights-nude-pics-between-kat-west-husband-in-weeks-leading-up-to-her-death

Kat West Murder Arrest, CBS 42 News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuMeZKj0_r4

Jeff West denied bond reduction, CBS 42 News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4qCwy6Dpio

Jeff West murder trial continues in Shelby County, WVTM NBC News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdfETZtsRtc

Dawn (Kitty Kat) West murder, HLN Channel with Ashleigh Banfield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suRgzlnobYI

Murder trial in the death of Calera mom, Kathleen West pushed back, WVTM NBC News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xBFd1Hr3_g

A look at the Kathleen West case with attorney John Robbins, CBS 42: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug1inW8uEjk

Jeff West's father speaks, CBS 42 News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV_iGD_IRyQ

Trial set for Jeff West in 2018 death of wife Kat West, Shelby County Reporter: https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2020/08/13/trial-set-for-jeff-west-in-2018-death-of-wife-kat-west/

Jeff West police interview contradicts phone data from night of wife Kat’s murder, CBS 42 News: https://www.cbs42.com/news/crime/jeff-west-police-interview-contradicts-phone-data-from-night-of-wife-kats-murder/

Kat West's husband Jeff West charged with murder, Birmingham Real Time News: https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2018/02/husband_of_kat_west_charged_wi.html

Body cam video shows moment husband learned of death of Kat West, Trussville Tribune: https://www.trussvilletribune.com/2020/11/18/body-cam-video-shows-moment-husband-learned-of-death-of-kat-west/

Twitter Updates from Steven Quinn, ABC 33/40 Reporter: https://twitter.com/StephenQ3340/status/1329156660611440641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1329157295482277888%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fabc3340.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Ftexts-reveal-fights-nude-pics-between-kat-west-husband-in-weeks-leading-up-to-her-death

Fall not likely cause of Kat West’s death, pathologist testifies, CBS 42 News: https://www.cbs42.com/news/crime/fall-not-likely-cause-of-kat-wests-death-pathologist-testifies/

‘I would not hurt my wife’: Jeff West told police in interrogation after Kat West’s death, Alabama Advance Local Media: https://www.al.com/news/2020/11/i-would-not-hurt-my-wife-jeff-west-told-police-in-interrogation-after-kat-wests-death.html

Husband convicted of manslaughter in death of Kat West, The New York Post: https://nypost.com/2020/11/21/husband-convicted-of-manslaughter-in-alabama-cam-girl-death/

Passionate texts between Kat, Jeff West to be presented to jury in murder trial, WHNT 19 News: https://whnt.com/news/alabama-news/passionate-texts-between-kat-jeff-west-to-be-presented-to-jury-in-murder-trial/

Jury finds Jeff West guilty of reckless manslaughter in death of wife, Kat West, WHNT 19 News: https://whnt.com/news/jury-finds-jeff-west-guilty-of-reckless-manslaughter-in-death-of-wife-kat-west/

Day 4 of Kat West trial reveals text messages, activity data from couple’s phones, Shelby County Reporter: https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2020/11/19/day-4-of-kat-west-trial-reveals-text-messages-activity-data-from-couples-phones/

Kat West trial continues with cell phone evidence, other testimony, Shelby County Reporter: https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2020/11/18/kat-west-trial-continues-with-cell-phone-evidence-other-testimony/

‘I would never hurt my wife’: Kat West murder trial continues, WBRC 6 News: https://www.wbrc.com/2020/11/17/kat-west-murder-trial-underway/

Live Tweets of Trial from Malique Rankin, News reporter at CBS42: https://twitter.com/MaliqueRankin/status/1329946264599977985 Live Tweets of Trial from Malique Rankin, News reporter at CBS42: https://twitter.com/MaliqueRankin/status/1329515165285568512