Michael West interview
Friday, August 2, 2024 – 1:30 p.m.
Michael West is married to Karen West, Kelly Moran's friend.
Detectives Armstrong and Murphy spoke with him at his office in Oxford.
Participants:
- Detective T. Armstrong
- Detective S. Murphy
- Michael West
Detective Murphy: Would you please state your name and address for the record?
Michael West: Michael West. 428 Turnberry Court, Oxford.
Detective Murphy: How do you like the neighborhood?
Michael West: I've managed to generate some leads.
Detective Murphy: Not friends?
Michael West: Cultivating leads is an investment. Cultivating friends, on the other hand, is time spent not cultivating leads.
Detective Murphy: Wouldn't new friends have friends who might turn into leads?
Michael West: Theoretically, yes, but I don't often find it works that way.
Detective Armstrong: We talked to your wife about her friend, Kelly Moran, who was killed a few days ago.
Michael West: Karen told me you did. She seemed unsure why you wanted to talk to her, just as I'm not sure why you want to talk to me.
Detective Armstrong: You both knew Mrs. Moran.
Michael West: I knew of her more than I knew her. Kelly was my wife's friend.
Detective Armstrong: When was the last time you saw Mrs. Moran?
Michael West: I'm not sure. Running into Kelly isn't exactly noteworthy.
Detective Armstrong: Can you recall the incident in general? Were you with a group of people, just with your wife, or perhaps alone with Mrs. Moran?
Michael West: I don't ever recall being alone with Kelly.
Detective Armstrong: No?
Michael West: Is there something specific you'd like to ask me? When I agreed to answer your questions, I expected to complete the task in minutes.
Detective Murphy: How well did you get along with Mrs. Moran?
Michael West: We weren't "friends" since that seems to be your area of interest. Sometimes, Karen and I were both invited over for dinner, and we occasionally returned the favor to Kelly and Russell.
Detective Murphy: How would you describe Mrs. Moran?
Michael West: A bad investment all around.
Detective Murphy: Do you think her husband would share that sentiment?
Michael West: I really don't know what he thought.
Detective Armstrong: Mr. Moran told us you ate at their house once a month, yet you just spoke as though it didn't happen very often.
Michael West: We may have eaten there once a month. I'm present but not really there, if you know what I mean.
Detective Armstrong: I've been in some meetings like that. What I don't understand is how you socialized so often with them without forming any opinions.
Michael West: I formed opinions. Going to their house for dinner was a waste of time. Being with them for any reason was a waste of time. I don't like either of them. I went because I love my wife, and Kelly is her friend.
Detective Murphy: Would you say Mrs. Moran was a good friend to your wife?
Michael West: I think they had their moments. Karen didn't complain much about Kelly. My wife knew I wasn't interested in spending time over there and rightly assumed that I would use any rift to suggest we develop other plans the next time an invitation was issued.
Detective Murphy: Did your wife ever complain about Mr. Moran?
Michael West: Why would she?
Detective Murphy: He was present at those dinners. She may also have simply repeated stories Mrs. Moran may have told her. The two of them were close friends. It's not inconceivable that they talked about their husbands.
Michael West: I'm afraid I have no gossip concerning Russell to pass on to you. Are we almost done here?
Detective Armstrong: Just a few more questions. Where were you on Wednesday night?
Michael West: Here, most likely. I find mid-week a good time to call people. They're already thinking about what they're going to do for the weekend and the money they'll need to do it. I get a good response calling people when they're in that frame of mind.
Detective Armstrong: Do you keep a record of these calls?
Michael West: Of course. There's a science to generating leads and cultivating clients. I'm not calling people to chat. I'm running a business.
Detective Murphy: Would that be on the office phone or your cellphone?
Michael West: My cellphone gives me range of motion. The more things I can do at once, the better I can monetize my time.
Detective Murphy: So you weren't necessarily here the whole time you were making those calls.
Michael West: But I was here.
Detective Murphy: Can anybody confirm that?
Michael West: You can since I just told you where I was.
Detective Armstrong: What time did you leave?
Michael West: 10:30, 11:00 p.m. Maybe 11:30 p.m. by the time I got out to my car.
Detective Armstrong: Seems a little late to be calling people.
Michael West: In this time zone, yes, but I don't like to limit myself.
Detective Armstrong: Did you talk to your wife that evening?
Michael West: When I got home, she was already in bed, watching television.
Detective Murphy: What was she watching?
Michael West: She didn't say, and I didn't notice. Didn't she remember?
Detective Murphy: We didn't get that far in the questioning. Is it your experience that your wife has difficulty remembering details like that?
Michael West: No more so than anyone else. Are we done here? I have calls to make.
Detective Armstrong: You're a bright guy. Who do you think killed Mrs. Moran?
Michael West: I figure it was random. Someone jumped off the highway and cruised the area, looking for a place to rob. Talk to Karen all you want about their little social circle. Waste my time with these questions. Your killer is already long gone.
Detective Armstrong: That's always a possibility. Just as it's a possibility the killer is right here.
Michael West: Are you suggesting my wife and I aren't safe?
Detective Armstrong: That's not what I said.
Detective Murphy: Thanks for talking to us, Mr. West. We don't want to take up any more of your valuable time.
Michael West: Now, just a minute. If my wife and I are in danger—
Detective Murphy: I doubt you have any more to worry about right now than you did three days ago, sir. You have a nice day now.
Interview ended – 2:02 p.m.
