A West Virginia man accused of killing a mother and her daughter made a deathbed confession in the 24-year-old cold case.
Larry Webb, who was in his 80s, was charged with murder in October 2023 over the 2000 disappearance of Susan Carter, 41, and her 10-year-old daughter, Natasha ‘Alex’ Carter.
The mother and daughter had not been seen since August 8, 2000 and were living in Webb’s home at the time of her disappearance.
Police said Webb, who reportedly had dementia, suffered a medical episode Monday at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex and made a confession that led authorities to find their bodies.
“It was a detailed, undeniable and unconflicted confession,” said Raleigh County Prosecutor Ben Hatfield. Webb indicated “that he believed he had to shoot Alex Carter to avoid being found out for killing Susan Carter.”
The remains of Susan Carter, 41, and her 10-year-old daughter Natasha ‘Alex’ Carter (pictured) were discovered almost 24 years after they disappeared.
Larry Webb confessed to killing Susan (pictured) and her daughter on her deathbed
Webb (pictured) suffered a medical episode Monday at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex and made a confession that led authorities to find their bodies.
His confession led authorities to find his remains Monday at Webb’s home in the 100 block of Kyle Lane in Beckley, he reported. WSAZ.
“It’s a sad day, but it’s also a happy day because I get to bring my baby home,” said Rick Lafferty, Alex’s father.
Authorities said Webb shot Susan after allegedly discovering some money was missing from the house, and then killed Alex to cover up Susan’s murder.
Webb wrapped the bodies in bedding and placed them in his basement that night. Over the next two nights, Webb dug a shallow grave in the woods on his property and buried the mother and daughter dressed in their clothes, Hatfield said.
“The way Larry Webb detailed the crime to us and the condition in which we found the bodies confirmed to us with a high degree of certainty that the two bodies found are those of Susan and Alex Carter,” said FBI Supervisory Special Agent Tony Rausa. .
Before he died, Webb was taken to the excavation site, “but his mind is not what it used to be,” Rausa said.
‘He couldn’t pinpoint the location. And with surgical precision, these two operators worked on those excavators and literally went row by row.’
Webb shot Susan after allegedly discovering some money was missing from the house and then killed Alex to cover up Susan’s murder. He buried her bodies in her backyard.
Webb was pronounced dead at a hospital six hours before his remains were discovered.
He was charged in October with one count of murder in the girl’s disappearance, but his incarceration was delayed until this month due to his deteriorating health.
Police executed search warrants at Webb’s home in 2022 and 2023. During one of those searches, a bullet was removed from a bedroom wall and DNA testing ultimately confirmed that the blood on the bullet belonged to Alex.
During one of those searches, Webb said WVNS He didn’t know what happened to the girl and he didn’t know when he last saw her.
“I’ve looked for them over the years, I even went to Cleveland and looked for them,” Webb said.
‘I don’t know. I only know that he loved her with all my heart and that he loved that girl too.