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Four men in Louisiana were charged with rape and murder four decades after 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp was found dead, thanks to a podcast and new DNA technology.
Sharp was found dead in a wooded area in Covington, Louisiana on Feb. 12, 1982. The Covington Police Department determined that Sharp was raped and murdered, but officials were unable to make arrests due to a lack of public cooperation and limited physical evidence, making the case go cold for decades until now.
Four Covington men face charges of aggravated rape and second-degree murder in connection with the 1982 killing of Sharp: Perry Wayne Taylor, 64, Darrell Dean Spell, 64, Carlos Cooper, 64, and Billy Williams Jr., 62. The men were arrested on April 21 and 22.
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This photo provided by Michele Lappin shows Roxanne Sharp in Covington, La., in 1980. (Michele Lappin via AP)
The Louisiana State Police credited new DNA technology and a podcast for helping make arrests in the murder of Sharp. The podcast generated new leads and information, as well as new witness cooperation.
Police worked with local radio host Charles Dowdy with the Lake 94.7 from the Northshore Media Group in 2025 to produce a podcast called “Who Killed Roxanne,” which generated “new information, leads, and witness cooperation previously unknown to investigators.”
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Darrell Spell was charged with aggravated rape and second-degree murder. (Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office)
“These arrests highlight the continued commitment of law enforcement to pursue justice, regardless of how much time has passed. Through advancements in investigative techniques and strong interagency cooperation, cases once thought unsolvable can still be brought to resolution,” the Louisiana State Police said in a statement.
Sharp’s niece, Michele Lappin, told the Associated Press she hopes the arrests will provide closure.
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“We appreciate the hard work and love that has been shown to Roxanne Sharp’s case,” Lappin said. “We hope that with justice will come healing and closure for our family, her loved ones and the community.”
Billy Williams Jr.’s son, Billy Williams III, meanwhile, is adamant that his father didn’t kill Sharp.
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Billy Williams was charged with second-degree murder and aggravated rape. (St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office)
“He thinks they’re putting him in for something he didn’t do,” Williams III said. “He says he would never in his life hurt anyone.”
Taylor and Cooper were already in prison on unrelated charges, according to police.
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Covington Police Department Chief Michael Ferrell said in a statement that his agency never gave up on Sharp’s case.
“The resolution of Roxanne Sharp’s case is a testament to what happens when dedicated law enforcement officers refuse to let a victim be forgotten. For over four decades, the Covington Police Department and Louisiana State Police kept Roxanne’s case alive revisiting evidence, following new leads, and carrying her name forward even when answers seemed out of reach. Cold cases don’t close themselves,” he said.
“They close because people show up, year after year, and refuse to quit. That is exactly what our agencies did, and today, Roxanne and her family finally have the justice they have waited so long for. We are proud of the work done by every investigator who touched this case and deeply grateful for the partnership that made this moment possible.”