More than four decades after a Louisiana teenager was raped and murdered, four men have been charged in connection with her killing — a breakthrough investigators credit in part to a true crime podcast that brought new witnesses forward.
Roxanne Sharp, 16, was found dead on February 12, 1982, in a wooded area near the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds in Covington, Louisiana, about 30 miles north of New Orleans.
Investigators determined she had been raped and murdered, with her body left at the scene. The Covington Police Department led the initial investigation. But the cold case stalled for years because of insufficient physical evidence and witnesses reluctant to cooperate.
At one point, authorities believed the case had been solved when serial killer Henry Lucas confessed to the murder. Lucas, who was known for making false confessions, later retracted his claim, and additional evidence ruled out his involvement.
In 2023, the Louisiana State Police Covington Field Office took over as lead investigators. Detectives reviewed the original case file, re-examined physical evidence and re-interviewed witnesses and possible suspects. Original evidence was resubmitted for modern DNA testing, and new evidence was gathered.
How a True Crime Podcast Helped Crack the CaseIn 2025, investigators partnered with Northshore Media Group and radio host Charles Dowdy from Lake 94.7 to create a six-part series titled “Who Killed Roxanne?”
Dowdy, who serves as vice president of Northshore Media, recorded audio while investigators recreated the crime scene, using measuring tapes to mark where Sharp’s body and other evidence were found. The recreation revealed Sharp had been grabbed from the street and dragged into the woods.
The “Who Killed Roxanne?” podcast generated significant public response, new tips and witnesses who came forward.
“When we started the podcast, we kind of thought nobody cared — we were quickly corrected,” Dowdy told The Associated Press. “A lot of people stepped up and said they knew Roxanne, they remembered her, they were friends with her.”
Louisiana State Police spokesperson Marc Gremillion told The Associated Press the series proved pivotal.
“It helped our investigators piece together where Roxanne was days before to the time she died, to where we’re at now,” he said. “It was a very large help with getting that message out to the public, and then, therefore, those witnesses getting back to us.”
4 Men Arrested in Roxanne Sharp’s Cold CaseAll four suspects face charges of aggravated rape and second-degree murder.
They are Perry Wayne Taylor, 64, of Covington; Darrell Dean Spell, 64, of Covington; Carlos Cooper, 64, of Covington; and Billy Williams Jr., 62, of Covington. Sharp knew the four suspects and frequently spent time in their neighborhood.
On April 21, 2026, Williams was arrested at his Covington home and booked into St. Tammany Parish Jail. The arrest involved CFO detectives, Louisiana State Police Troop L, LSP SWAT and Covington Police.
Simultaneously, Spell was arrested in Dayton, Ohio, by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation; he is being held at Montgomery County Jail awaiting extradition to Louisiana.
On April 22, 2026, detectives contacted Taylor and Cooper, who were already in Louisiana Department of Corrections custody on unrelated charges.
Officials and Family Members Respond to Breakthrough in CaseDistrict Attorney Collin Sims said the arrests reflect persistent work across multiple agencies.
“For more than four decades, this victim and her family have waited for answers,” he said. “Today’s arrests reflect our unwavering commitment to pursue justice — no matter how much time has passed — and to hold those responsible fully accountable.”
Covington Police Chief Michael Ferrell credited investigators who refused to give up.
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“Cold cases don’t close themselves. They close because people show up, year after year, and refuse to quit,” he said. “That is exactly what our agencies did, and today, Roxanne and her family finally have the justice they have waited so long for.”
Sharp’s niece, Michele Lappin, expressed gratitude in a statement shared by The Associated Press.
“We appreciate the hard work and love that has been shown to Roxanne Sharp’s case,” she said. “We hope that with justice will come healing and closure for our family, her loved ones, and the community.”
