A West Virginia father is finally getting some sense of closure after authorities discovered the remains of his young daughter and her mother, thanks to a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
According to Benjamin Hatfield, the prosecuting attorney for Raleigh County, the recent turn of events was described as 'a bit of a poetic ending that not even I could write' during a news conference held on Tuesday.
In a detailed confession to one of the investigators earlier this month, Larry Webb admitted to fatally shooting Natasha 'Alex' Carter, who was 10 years old at the time, and her mother, Susan Carter, nearly 24 years ago. The incident took place while the Carters were living at Webb's home in 2000.
Webb revealed that an argument ensued between him and Susan Carter over missing cash, leading him to shoot her. Feeling the need to avoid detection for Susan's murder, Webb then made the tragic decision to also shoot Alex. He confessed to storing their bodies in the basement of his home before burying them together in a shallow grave in the woods on his property over the course of two nights.
Alex's father, Rick Lafferty, expressed mixed emotions, stating, 'It's kind of a sad day, but also a happy day because I could bring my baby home.' Lafferty also shared the challenges faced over the past 24 years as the case went cold multiple times, almost causing him to lose hope.
Webb had been a suspect from the beginning of the investigation and was indicted for first-degree murder in Alex's death in October 2023. However, the bodies of Carter and Alex had not been located at that time.
Due to Webb's declining health, court proceedings were delayed, with issues arising around his medical care and incarceration. Prior to a scheduled court date this month, Webb confessed to the killings, providing details on his motive and the burial location of the bodies.
Excavation efforts began on April 9, but locating the bodies proved challenging due to Webb's limited description and deteriorating health. Webb was later transferred to a hospital, where he passed away. Shortly after, the remains of Susan and Alex Carter were discovered.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the remains are currently with the coroner's office. Lafferty offered a message of hope to others in similar situations, advising them to 'never give up' in the search for their missing loved ones.
