The Mysterious End of Kathleen Dawn West

Kathleen "Kat" Dawn West, a stay-at-home mom, was discovered dead from head injuries caused by blunt force trauma on January 13, 2018 in the early hours of the morning. Her body, partially unclothed, was found across the street from her residence in Calera, Alabama.

Jeff West, a former Army recruiter and campus police officer, was married to Kat, who was a stay-at-home mom. The couple tied the knot in 2004 after four months of dating and welcomed their daughter, Lola, in 2005.

Jeff and Kat had a regular date night, and on January 12, 2018, they went out for dinner and drinks while their 12-year-old daughter, Lola, stayed with Jeff's parents. On their way home, they were captured on a liquor store security camera purchasing alcohol. Unfortunately, this was the last sighting of Kat alive.

What Really Happened to Kathleen Dawn West

After returning to their residence, the Wests continued to consume alcohol. Jeff shared a photo of the bottle they had purchased on Instagram that same night.

The victim's body was discovered at approximately 5 a.m. the next day by a 19-year-old neighbor who was en route to work at a fast-food restaurant. The victim was found wearing solely a sports bra, and her cell phone was discovered nearby with a green bottle placed on top. She immediately informed her parents and together they contacted 911 for assistance.

Upon arriving at the location, Calera Police Sgt. Mike Mehlhoff noticed that an open bottle of absinthe liquor and Kat's cell phone were next to her body. He showed "48 Hours" the positioning of the items, which he believes was arranged deliberately to create a false impression of the incident.

While at the scene, Sgt. Mehlhoff noticed two blood pools, one on the ground and another in the grass. He suspects that the presence of these pools indicates that Kat's body was relocated after the attack.

Detectives discovered that Kat was an active user of OnlyFans, a subscription-based site where individuals share adult photos and videos. Brittany Driesler, a friend of the couple, informed "48 Hours" that Kat was open about her online activities and that Jeff was supportive of it.

According to Jeff West's statement to the authorities, he assisted in taking pictures of Kat for her online audience. The police investigated the possibility that one of her followers may have been stalking and responsible for her death, but investigators reported that they were unable to identify any credible online suspects.

West informed the police that he did not feel any jealousy or resentment towards his wife's job, stating, "There's nothing to be jealous about. Me and her were in a good place. It's just pictures, and she earned money from it."

A Turn in the Case

Jeff West was taken into police custody on February 22, 2018, and was charged with the murder of his wife.

Despite being arrested, Jeff West has consistently asserted his innocence. Surprisingly, two of his most ardent supporters are Kat's parents, John and Nancy Martin. The Martins firmly believe that Jeff is innocent and would never have harmed their daughter. In fact, Kat's father is so certain of Jeff's innocence that he said "I know he didn't do it."

According to West's statement to investigators, he and his wife had a happy marriage. However, they had some disagreements as his wife desired to engage in sexual activity four or five times every week.

According to AL reports, West revealed to authorities that he did not share his wife's desire to engage in sexual activity as frequently as she did. He stated, "I'm not as sexual as she is. It is what it is. I'm happy with myself. She wasn't happy with it." Additionally, West disclosed that his wife was bisexual, and they had discussed the possibility of her having relationships with other women. He further explained, "She liked girls. She recently wanted to look into the lifestyle."

What Really Happened That Night

After the couple had drank so much, According to prosecutor Daniel McBrayer, an argument ensued between the couple at some point. McBrayer stated that "He [Jeff West] is tired and fed up with this Instagram stuff," and proceeded to grab Kat's phone and throw it out of the front door, causing it to land on the street. Previous testimony revealed that Kat's phone was damaged as a result of the incident.

Kat West left the house to retrieve her phone, clad only in a pink bra, without any pants, panties, or shoes on. According to McBrayer, Jeff West followed her outside, holding the liquor bottle in an inverted position, and used it to deliver the fatal blow to her head.

Jeff was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2021