An 80-year-old West Virginia man has been indicted by a grand jury for the death of a 10-year-old who hasn’t been since 2000.
On Wednesday, a special grand jury in Raleigh County indicted Larry Webb on first-degree murder in connection with the presumed death of Natasha “Alex” Carter, over 20 years after her disappearance.
Natasha and her mother, Susan Carter, were last seen in the Beckley region on or around August 8, 2000, as CrimeOnline previously reported. Their disappearance coincided with a custody dispute between Susan and Natasha’s father, Rick Lafferty.
Shortly before her disappearance, Natasha moved in with her mother and her mother’s new boyfriend, police said. Susan Carter’s boyfriend was identified as Webb.
In September, the Pittsburgh Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that “law enforcement activity” was underway at Webb’s home, off Kyle Lane in Beckley. Webb’s caretaker, Terry Lilly, reportedly said investigators found a bullet in Webb’s home, along with additional evidence.
So far, officials have not confirmed or denied Lilly’s claims.
Investigators previously searched Webb’s home in 2022. During one of the searches, according to CBS News, Webb claimed he had dementia and couldn’t remember what happened to Natasha or her mother.
“I don’t have any idea what happened to her…I don’t remember,” Webb said. “I have dementia. I can’t say exactly.”
The FBI said the search for the pair is ongoing. At the time of her disappearance, Natasha hadn’t seen her father in months and may have been afraid of her mother.
Both mother and daughter are presumed dead.
“They may have traveled out of state and left West Virginia. Susan had been involved in a contentious battle over Natasha’s custody with the child’s father and had told him he would never see his daughter again,” the FBI missing persons poster read.
“Natasha’s grandmother believed the child was afraid of her mother and did not want to live with her. Susan may be using the alias Susan Gail Carter Webb and she may alter her appearance.”
Meanwhile, Lafferty is hoping investigators can locate his daughter, which would allow him to “bring her home,” 59 News reports.
“You know, I know that she’s not alive, but I could bring her home. At least have a headstone or someplace I can visit her.”
Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield said that due to his medical conditions, Webb has not yet been arrested but police are working on taking him into custody.
“It is a logistical process that we are dealing with but it is my full intent that he be taken into custody and lodged at the Southern Regional Jail,” Hatfield said. “We are going through all the necessary steps in order to ensure his incarceration.”
Earlier this year, the FBI and State Police doubled the reward to $20,000 for information that helps solve the case.
Anyone with information on the should contact the State Police’s Beckley department at (304) 256-6700.
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[Feature Photo: Natasha Carter/Handout]
