Beckley, West Virginia – After 24 years, a man on his deathbed made a shocking confession to the murder of a mother and daughter, leading to the discovery of their remains earlier this week. Susan Carter and her 10-year-old daughter Natasha “Alex” Carter disappeared in August 2000, sparking a long and agonizing search for their whereabouts.
The bodies of Susan and Alex Carter were unearthed in the backyard of suspect Larry Webb in West Virginia the day he passed away in custody. This revelation brought a mix of emotions for Rick Lafferty, Alex’s father, who expressed relief at finally being able to bring his daughter home after years of uncertainty and dashed hopes.
The case had gone cold many times over the decades, leaving Lafferty on the brink of despair. In a message to others in similar situations, he implored them to never lose hope and to keep searching for their missing loved ones. The long-awaited break in the case came when authorities obtained a search warrant for Webb’s residence in Beckley, West Virginia, 18 months ago.
During the execution of the warrant, a bullet with traces of Alex’s blood was found embedded in a bedroom wall where she was known to have been. This critical piece of evidence was sent to an FBI lab for DNA testing, confirming its connection to Alex, and leading to Webb’s indictment on first-degree murder charges in October 2023.
While Webb’s health delayed court proceedings, preventing his incarceration, a breakthrough finally occurred earlier this month. Prosecuting attorney Ben Hatfield recounted the chilling details of Webb’s confession, shedding light on the gruesome manner in which the bodies were hidden and revealing the motive behind the heinous act.
Webb’s confession, prompted by his impending death and a desire for redemption, led investigators to the exact location of the Carter’s remains. With the help of local landscapers, the bodies were finally recovered, bringing closure to a decades-long mystery. Hatfield noted the irony of Webb’s death shortly before the discovery of the remains, a twist of fate reminiscent of a Hollywood thriller.