A West Virginia man in his 80s, Larry Webb, recently confessed to the cold case killing of 10-year-old Natasha 'Alex' Carter and her mother, Susan Carter, in 2000. Tragically, Webb passed away at Mount Olive Correctional Complex in Fayette County on the same day the victims' remains were discovered.
The Carters had been missing since August 8, 2000, when Susan was 41 years old and Natasha was just 10. At the time of their disappearance, Susan was in a custody battle with Natasha's father, residing in Webb's house.
The case remained unsolved for over two decades until the FBI reopened the investigation in 2021. Search warrants were executed at Webb's residence in 2022 and 2023, leading to his indictment in November. Webb was arrested earlier this month and was being held without bond at MOCC.
Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield revealed that Webb shot Susan Carter due to a financial dispute, suspecting her of spending a significant amount of money. Following Susan's murder, Webb killed Natasha to avoid detection for the first killing. He confessed to hiding the victims' bodies in a shallow grave on his property.
West Virginia State Police officials shared that Webb made his confession in early April while on his deathbed, seeking redemption. Natasha's father, Rick Lafferty, expressed gratitude towards the authorities for their dedication in solving the case.
Despite the somber circumstances, Lafferty found solace in the closure the confession brought, stating, 'Kind of a sad day, but also a happy day, because I can bring my baby home.'