Donald “Keith” West was born on July 30, 1966. He was a son. He was a brother. He was a former marine, a former corrections officer, and a police officer. He was a businessman. And, most importantly, he was a father. His daughter, Lily Marie, was just 9 months old when his body was found on July 18, 2006; just 12 days shy of his 40th birthday.
On July 18, 2006, Keith’s body was found in his bed, in his home. He had been shot as he slept; as his young daughter slept in a room across the hall. His live-in girlfriend – the mother of his child, Tiffany Ann Bassett, was subsequently charged with first degree premeditated murder in his death.
After just more than two years in jail, Tiffany’s trial began. It took three days for the prosecution and defense to agree on a jury pool. Tiffany pleaded guilty to 2nd degree murder and was sentenced to 221 – 275 (18.4 – 22.9 years) in prison, with credit for time served. She checked into her new digs at Women's Prison on September 9, 2008.
While this plea was not justice for Keith’s murder, it did mean that Keith’s daughter could be shielded from this heartless woman at least until she is an adult and old enough to make her own decisions regarding her birth mother. And now that the trial is over with, the biggest fight of Keith’s family’s lives will begin.
They will fight to ensure that the woman who is a drug-addicted murderer and is responsible for the loss of their son, of their brother, will not be able to raise Keith’s daughter.
In the sections that follow, you will find links that will take you to websites and news articles about Keith, the murder, and the trial. We hope that you’ll take time to visit at least a few of them.
