Rookie Private Eye Cracks Double-Murder Case

A young female private detective working her first big case romanced a man into confessing that he had a role in the murder of a wealthy attorney and his wife, authorities said Tuesday.

Police credited Kim Paris, 23, with breaking open a 3-year-old double-murder case by befriending suspect David Duval West, 28, and dating him for two months.

West was indicted last week on capital murder charges in the 1982 shooting deaths of James Campbell and his wife, Virginia. Police believe West was hired by Cynthia Helen Campbell Ray, 28, one of the four Campbell daughters, to kill her parents.

Assistant Dist. Atty. Terry Wilson said he will seek to indict Ray in the deaths. Both Ray and West were being held without bond Tuesday in the Harris County Jail.

“He had been considered as a suspect all along. So had she,” said Sgt. J. C. Mosier. “But there wasn’t enough evidence.

“If a police officer had gone out and done the same thing (as Paris), she would have had to give him a legal warning (of her intentions). A private investigator is able to do things the police can’t do legally.

“She (Paris) was able to get in with him . . . gained his faith and trust and he finally told her what happened.”

The case was the first big one assigned to Paris by Clyde Wilson International Investigative & Security Services, which had been hired by the other three Campbell daughters to investigate their parents’ death.

“I was friendly, and we made conversation,” said Paris of her first meeting with West. “There was never any promise of sexual favors. I wanted to build a friendship and gain his confidence.”

Three co-workers followed every move of Paris and West.

In mid-February, West proposed to Paris, but she told him she could not consider marrying him until he told her whatever it was that he seemed to be hiding.

“I had worked it to the point that there was something David was hiding, and then later on, the air would have to clear before I could seriously consider the future (with him),” she said.

At that point, Paris told her boss that she thought West was ready to confess. Wilson called police and a transmitter was placed in Paris’ purse for meetings two nights last week with West.

As the two talked, police listened. When they drove to a convenience store Thursday night, Paris got out of the car and police closed in for the arrest.

“She did an excellent job,” Mosier said.