Shivangi Sinha
Lifetime’s ‘A Husband to Die For: The Lisa Aguilar Story’ is a chilling retelling of a husband’s calculated plan to harm his wife rather than face the responsibilities of fatherhood. Darren West initially appears thrilled when his wife, Lisa West, tells him she is pregnant. However, the small but significant changes like sharing his personal space and altering his daily routine begin to frustrate him. He soon starts an affair with a coworker, Michelle Morris, and eventually devises a disturbing plan. Wearing a gorilla mask, he brutally attacks his wife, stabbing her multiple times. As unbelievable as it sounds, this harrowing story is rooted in true events and makes the film all the more important and relevant.
The Real-Life Darrent West Was Convicted of Attempted Murder
Lifetime’s ‘A Husband to Die For: The Lisa Aguilar Story’ is based on a true story, with the real Lisa Aguilar even consulting on the film to ensure its authenticity. Jon McLaren plays the character of Darren West, and is inspired by a real man who nearly killed his wife while she was eight months pregnant. According to reports, in April 1994, Darren West attacked his then-wife, stabbing her more than 50 times while wearing a gorilla mask to hide his identity. However, he failed to remove identifiable items like his T-shirt, watch, and shoes, which ultimately allowed his wife to recognize him and led to his arrest.
In June 1994, Darren was convicted of attempted murder after Lisa Aguilar bravely testified against him in court, recounting the horrific attack that nearly claimed her life. While detailed public records about the case remain limited, it is clear that he served a significant amount of time in prison. Reports indicate that Lisa appeared before the parole board approximately 17 times over the years, fighting to keep him behind bars for as long as possible. The real Darren, at the time of his arrest, was preparing to become a professional golfer and this is exactly shown in the movie as well. Even the motivation for his crime, which was the pressure he was feeling from his impending fatherhood and his extramarital affair, has been the inspiration for the movie.
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Darren West Does Not Seem to be in the Public Eye Today
In 1994, Lisa Aguilar was eight months pregnant with a baby boy she planned to name Darren, the same child who was also a victim of Darren West’s brutal attack. Little is known about Darren West’s life since his conviction for attempted murder, as public records remain scarce. However, the fact that his real name is used in Lifetime’s ‘A Husband to Die For: The Lisa Aguilar Story’ and that Lisa herself consulted on the film strongly suggests that there has been no contact between them for decades. It is not known if they got divorced or not. Given the renewed attention the case is receiving thanks to the film, it is likely that Darren will continue to keep a low profile and stay out of public view.
