Bodies of Mother and Daughter Missing for 24 Years Found Buried in West Virginia Yard

The remains of Susan Carter and her 10-year-old daughter Natasha "Alex" Carter, who vanished in August 2000, were discovered buried in the backyard of a home in Mabscott, West Virginia. The grim discovery came just hours after the property's owner, Larry Webb, confessed on his deathbed to killing the mother and daughter nearly 24 years ago.

Webb, who was 82 years old, told investigators that he shot Susan Carter during an argument over missing money and then killed Alex to avoid detection. He kept the bodies in his basement for two days before burying them in a shallow grave on his property, where they remained hidden for over two decades.

The case had gone cold for years, but in 2021, the FBI reopened the investigation and found a critical piece of evidence inside Webb's home - a bullet embedded in the wall of what was once Alex's bedroom. DNA testing confirmed that the blood on the bullet belonged to the young girl. This discovery led to Webb's indictment on first-degree murder charges in October 2023.

Why this matters: The resolution of this long-unsolved case brings closure to the victims' family and highlights the tireless efforts of law enforcement to pursue justice, even decades after a crime. It also underscores the importance of advances in forensic technology in solving cold cases and bringing perpetrators to account.

Just before his death in custody, Webb provided authorities with the location of the unmarked grave where he had buried Susan and Alex's bodies. After a three-day search, their remains were finally recovered, allowing the family to bring them home and lay them to rest. "I never gave up. I never gave up searching for Alex," said the girl's father, Rick Lafferty, who expressed both sadness and relief at the outcome.

The investigation into the handling of the case in its early days is ongoing, as authorities examine whether mistakes were made that allowed it to remain unsolved for so long. For Lafferty and all those who knew and loved Susan and Alex, the discovery of their remains marks the end of a painful chapter and the beginning of the long road to healing. As Lafferty noted, "Never give up on your missing loved ones. There's always someone out there who will listen and help you."

Key Takeaways

• Remains of Susan and Natasha Carter found 24 years after disappearance.
• Killer, Larry Webb, confessed on deathbed to shooting the mother and daughter.
• FBI reopened case in 2021, found critical evidence leading to Webb's indictment.
• Victim's father never gave up, highlighting importance of perseverance in cold cases.
• Case underscores advancements in forensics and law enforcement's pursuit of justice.