An 82-year-old West Virginia man named Larry Webb confessed on his deathbed to killing Susan Carter, 41, and her 10-year-old daughter Natasha “Alex” Carter nearly 25 years ago. He led investigators to their bodies, which were buried in a shallow grave on his property in Beckley. Webb died at Mount Olive Correctional Complex in Fayette County, and shortly after, the remains of the mother and daughter were discovered on his property, bringing some closure to the case.
Webb admitted to shooting Susan Carter during an argument over money, as he believed she had taken and spent his cash. After realizing he had “ruined his life forever” by killing her, Webb then shot her daughter Alex to eliminate any witnesses. He stored their bodies in the basement of his home and later buried them in the woods on his property over the course of three nights in August 2000. Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield shared these details of the crime.
In October 2023, Webb was indicted for the death of Alex Carter and taken into custody after the FBI reopened the cold case in 2021. Investigators found a bullet embedded in the wall of what used to be Alex’s bedroom during a search of Webb’s home last year. DNA testing confirmed that the blood on the bullet belonged to the 10-year-old girl. However, Webb did not confess to the murders until he had a “come to Jesus” moment on his deathbed in April, according to West Virginia state police.
Rick Lafferty, Alex Carter’s father, who was in a custody battle with Susan at the time of her death, expressed gratitude to investigators for finally closing the case after nearly a quarter century. He described the day as bittersweet, as on one hand, he was thankful for the closure, but on the other hand, it was a sad day as he could now bring his daughter home. Webb’s confession on his deathbed finally provided answers to a case that had remained unsolved for years, bringing some peace to the families of the victims.
The discovery of Susan and Alex Carter’s bodies on Larry Webb’s property served as a bit of “a poetic ending,” according to police. Webb’s death at Mount Olive Correctional Complex shortly before the bodies were unearthed added an element of closure to a case that had gone unsolved for nearly a quarter-century. The tragic story of their deaths, buried secrets, and eventual confession has now come to light, finally giving the families some insight into the terrible events that transpired all those years ago.
Larry Webb’s deathbed confession to the double murder of Susan Carter and her daughter Alex brought an unexpected end to a case that had haunted their loved ones for years. Webb’s admission of guilt and the subsequent discovery of the bodies have provided closure to a case that had remained unsolved for decades. The families of the victims, particularly Alex’s father who had been in a custody battle with Susan at the time of her death, expressed mixed emotions of sadness and relief at finally having some answers. The tragic events that unfolded in August 2000 have now been brought to light, allowing the families to begin the healing process after so many years of uncertainty.
