FAYETTE COUNTY, WV – A man from West Virginia, in his 80s, confessed to a cold case double murder that occurred over two decades ago, only to die the same day the victims’ remains were discovered. Larry Webb made the startling admission about the 2000 killings of 41-year-old Susan Carter and her 10-year-old daughter, Natasha “Alex” Carter, just hours before his death at Mount Olive Correctional Complex.
The Carters had been missing since August 8, 2000, a period during which Susan was engaged in a custody dispute with Natasha’s father. The mother and daughter were living in Webb’s residence at the time of their disappearance.
The case remained unsolved for more than 20 years until the FBI reopened the investigation in 2021. Search warrants were executed at Webb’s home in 2022 and 2023, leading to his indictment in November and subsequent arrest earlier this month. Webb was being held without bond at Mount Olive Correctional Complex.
During a press conference, Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield revealed that Webb killed the Carters over a financial dispute. Webb suspected that Susan had spent a considerable amount of his money, leading to an argument that ended in her murder. Webb then killed Natasha to avoid being linked to Susan’s death.
Webb also confessed to hiding the victims’ bodies. He stated that after killing both mother and daughter, he stored their bodies in his basement before burying them in a shallow grave on his property.
West Virginia State Police officials say the confession was made in the first week of April. They praise the investigators’ hard work and dedication in solving this long-standing cold case.
Natasha’s father, Rick Lafferty, expressed a mix of sorrow and relief at the press conference, grateful for the closure but saddened by the tragic loss of his daughter and her mother.