Louisiana state police announced on Friday the arrests of four men in connection with the 1982 murder of 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp, a case that had remained unsolved for over four decades. The breakthrough came after tips generated by a true-crime podcast and advances in DNA technology provided new leads.
Details of the Arrests
The suspects, all aged 64 and from the Covington area, were identified as Perry Wayne Taylor, Darrel Dean Spell, Carlos Cooper, and Billy Williams Jr. Each faces charges of aggravated rape and second-degree murder. If convicted, they would receive mandatory life imprisonment. Taylor and Cooper were already serving time in Louisiana state prisons when linked to the killing, while Williams was arrested and jailed in Covington. Spell was apprehended at his home in Ohio and is awaiting extradition to Louisiana.
The Crime and Investigation
Sharp's body was discovered on February 12, 1982, in a wooded area near the St. Tammany Parish fairgrounds in Covington. Investigators determined she had been raped and murdered before being left at the scene. The case stalled due to scant evidence and limited public cooperation. Covington police led the investigation until 2023, when state police took over, conducting new interviews and resubmitting evidence for DNA testing.
Role of the True-Crime Podcast
In early 2025, Northshore Media Group released a podcast titled Who Killed Roxanne Sharp?, which included a tip line. Created with local radio host Charles Down and the state police's public affairs office, the podcast generated new leads and witnesses. Combined with updated DNA technology, it helped identify and arrest the suspects. State police Lt. Heath Miller noted that a "culture of fear" among those involved had hindered earlier efforts, but the podcast played a crucial role in obtaining needed information.
Impact of True-Crime Media
Podcasts and true-crime media have increasingly influenced criminal justice, sometimes leading to positive outcomes despite criticism of exploitation. In 2020, the podcast The Murder Squad led to an arrest in a 40-year-old cold case. In 2024, a South Carolina sheriff credited MurderETC with helping identify a victim in a 1975 killing.
Statements from Officials
Covington Police Chief Michael Ferrell said, "Cold cases don’t close themselves. They close because people show up, year after year, and refuse to quit." District Attorney Collin Sims added, "This case is a powerful example of what persistence, collaboration, and advancements in investigative technology can accomplish. For more than four decades, this victim and her family have waited for answers."
