iPhone Health Data Solves Crime, Spills the Beans on Wife’s Murder

Apple’s Health app may improve your fitness, but did you know it could also help solve a murder?

According to a report in The Birmingham News, a man who claimed he was not responsible for his wife’s death was ratted out by his iPhone’s health data.

The torrid story began three years ago in 2018 when online exhibitionist Kat West was found deceased outside of her home from a blow to the head.

Investigators believe West was killed by her husband, Jeff West, who allegedly hit his wife in the head with a bottle following an argument.

Her husband maintained his innocence, claiming his wife was intoxicated and fell accidentally.

Investigators performed the standard forensics analysis and dug even further, looking into the iPhone’s Health data on the couple’s phones. It was during this analysis that several inconsistencies with West’s story were uncovered.

According to investigators, Jeff West claimed he went to bed around 10:30 PM and slept until 5:15 AM. He claims he was awakened by police outside his home following the discovery of his wife’s body by a neighbor.

His Apple Health data betrayed him, though. The Health app showed that he wasn’t sleeping, but was walking, recording 18 steps between 11:03 PM and 11:10 PM. His wife’s phone also showed movement up until 10:54 PM, after which point it remained motionless.

Investigators note that West cooperated with the police, permitting them to search his and his wife’s iPhones. Using this Health data and other forensic data, West eventually was convicted of his wife’s murder and recently sentenced to 16 years in prison.