Murdered Mother and Daughter Found 24 Years Later: Closure for Family in Cold Case

Susan Carter (left) and her daughter Alex, who were murdered in the incident 24 years ago/FBI

2024.04.26 Web Posted at 14:46 JST

(CNN) Authorities have recently discovered the remains of a mother and daughter who were murdered in a cold case in the United States that happened almost 24 years ago. Information revealed on his deathbed by the man believed to have shot and killed a mother and daughter led to the discovery. The victim’s husband and father now feels a sense of closure.

Benjamin Hatfield, the prosecutor of the Raleigh County, West Virginia, said in a press conference on Tuesday that the case had an unexpected and surreal ending.

The prosecutor said Larry Webb, who was charged in the case earlier this month, made a “detailed, undeniable and uncontradicted” confession to one of the investigators on his deathbed. He admitted to shooting and killing 10-year-old Natasha “Alex” Carter and her mother, Susan Carter, in 2000.

That same year, mother and daughter lived in the Webb home. The authorities revealed. The defendant told investigators that some of the money he had in his home was missing. He said he became suspicious of Susan, who was spending a lot of money at the time. The two men got into an argument, and Webb shot Susan. Afterwards, he had no choice but to kill Alex to avoid being found out for Susan’s murder.

The defendant kept the bodies of the mother and daughter in the basement of her home. Over the next two nights, he dug a shallow hole in the woods on his property and buried mother and daughter together.

Alex’s father, Rick Rafferty, said on the 23rd: “It’s a bit of a sad day, but it’s also a happy day because we managed to bring our daughter home.” He also remembered, over a period of almost 24 years, that there were many times when the investigation came to a halt and he almost lost hope.

Webb, who had been considered a suspect from the start of the investigation, was charged with Alex’s murder in October 2023, but the bodies of mother and daughter had never been found at that time.

After the indictment, the trial date was delayed due to defendant Webb’s health condition, and he was also transferred to a nursing home.

Hatfield said one of his investigators was able to speak with Webb at the facility before the trial date this month. Here, the defendant admitted the details of the murder and the motive. He also revealed that he had buried the body behind his property.

The confession was said to be in line with the investigation and evidence gathered up to that point.

However, it was difficult to determine where the body was buried due to the defendant’s vague memory and mental and physical condition. On the 9th of this month, a search was carried out with the defendant present, but the suspect’s health deteriorated significantly and no results were obtained.

Webb was then transferred to a general hospital, where he died on the morning of the 22nd.

The remains of Susan and Alex were discovered several hours later.

The investigation is ongoing and the remains have been released to the coroner’s office.

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