Larry Webb, an 80-year-old West Virginia man, admitted to the cold case killing of 10-year-old Natasha “Alex” Carter and her mother Susan Carter in 2000. He died at Mount Olive Correctional Complex in Fayette County on the same day that their bodies were discovered. The victims had not been seen since August 8, 2000, when Susan was 41 years old and Natasha was 10. At the time of their disappearance, Susan was in a custody battle with Natasha’s father and was living in Webb’s house.
The case remained unsolved for over two decades until the FBI began re-investigating in 2021. Search warrants were executed at Webb’s home in 2022 and 2023, leading to his indictment and eventual arrest in November. He was being held without bond at MOCC until his death. During a press conference, Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield revealed that Webb shot and killed the Carters due to a financial issue. He suspected that Susan had spent a lot of money and shot her after an argument about missing cash. Webb killed Natasha to avoid detection for Susan’s murder. He confessed to hiding their bodies in a shallow grave on his property.
According to Hatfield, Webb cried himself to sleep after killing the victims and buried them together in the same grave in their clothes. The confession was made during the first week of April when Webb was on his deathbed and seeking redemption. Natasha’s father, Rick Lafferty, expressed gratitude to the authorities at the press conference for their hard work. He described it as a sad yet happy day as he could now bring his daughter home. Webb’s admission provided closure to the long-standing mystery surrounding the disappearance and murder of Susan and Natasha.
Authorities revealed that Susan told Natasha’s father that he would never see his daughter again before their disappearance. Webb’s financial motives for the murders shed new light on the case, as it appeared that personal disputes led to the tragic outcome. The killer’s actions were carefully planned, as he hid the bodies and took additional steps to avoid suspicion for the crime. The investigation into the Carter’s murders ultimately led to Webb’s confession and the discovery of their remains, providing some solace to their loved ones after years of uncertainty.
The re-investigation and subsequent arrest of Webb represent a significant breakthrough in a case that had remained unsolved for over two decades. The confession and revelation of the killer’s motives shed new light on the circumstances surrounding the murders of Susan and Natasha Carter. Webb’s death shortly before the discovery of the victims’ bodies added a sense of irony and closure to the tragic events of 2000. The efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors involved in the cold case investigation were crucial in securing justice for the victims and their families.
