West Virginia Man Indicted on Murder Charge in 20-Year-Old Cold Case
August 11, 2023
Raleigh County, West Virginia – A grand jury has indicted Larry Webb, a West Virginia man, on a murder charge in connection with the disappearance of 10-year-old Natasha “Alex” Carter over two decades ago. The announcement was made by Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield on Tuesday.
Natasha Carter and her mother, Susan Carter, vanished on August 8, 2000, and have not been seen since. At the time of their disappearance, Susan Carter was engaged in a custody battle with Natasha’s father and had reportedly made threats that he would never see his daughter again. An FBI flyer from that time suggested that the pair may have left the state.
Recent developments in the case prompted the FBI Pittsburgh office to launch a renewed effort to find answers. In December 2021, they announced a reward for information leading to the resolution of the cold case. The reward, initially set at $10,000, was increased to $20,000 just last month, according to CBS affiliate WOWK-TV.
Police executed search warrants at Larry Webb’s residence in 2022 and 2023. Additional evidence linked to the investigation was reportedly found during these searches. Webb, who is currently in his 80s and suffering from dementia, claimed to have no recollection of what happened to Natasha Carter or when he last saw her.
Webb’s caretaker, Terry Lilly, stated that the police confiscated various items during the searches, including a bullet, flooring tile, and DNA evidence. However, these claims have not been officially confirmed by authorities.
While Natasha Carter is presumed dead, the investigation into the disappearance of Susan Carter is still ongoing, according to Hatfield. He stated that the wealth of evidence collected thus far pertains to the death of Natasha Carter specifically. The police are actively working to apprehend Larry Webb, who is currently in a “quasi-medical housing situation.”
It remains unclear if Webb has legal representation. The circuit court clerk stated that there is no attorney of record listed for him, and the public defender’s office declined to comment on the matter.
The West Virginia community hopes that the indictment of Larry Webb will finally bring closure to this tragic case that has haunted them for over two decades. As the investigation progresses, everyone eagerly waits for justice to be served and for the truth behind Natasha “Alex” Carter’s disappearance to be revealed.
Note: CBS News has more reports and updates on this story.