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Sharp\u2019s body was discovered on Feb. 12, 1982, dumped near the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds in Covington, Louisiana. She had been raped and strangled. Investigators had little physical evidence to work with, and for 43 years, her killers walked free.<\/p>\n
In 2023, detectives from the Louisiana State Police Covington Field Office re-interviewed witnesses and potential suspects, conducted an extensive review of the case file, gathered additional evidence, and resubmitted original evidence for DNA analysis.<\/p>\n
Two years later, LSP Public Affairs and Cold Case Unit detectives partnered with local radio host Charles Dowdy of the Northshore Media Group to produce a podcast titled \u201cWho Killed Roxanne.\u201d The series generated new information, leads, and witness cooperation that had previously been unknown to investigators.<\/p>\n
Arrests followed this month. On April 21, Billy Williams Jr., 62, was taken into custody in Covington, and Darrell Dean Spell, 64, was arrested at his home in Dayton, Ohio; Spell is awaiting extradition to Louisiana. The remaining two suspects, Perry Wayne Taylor, 64, and Carlos Cooper, 64, both of Covington, were already incarcerated by the Louisiana Department of Corrections on unrelated charges and made contact with detectives on April 22. All four men are charged with aggravated rape and second-degree murder.<\/p>\n
Covington Police Chief Michael Ferrell credited the persistence of both his department and the Louisiana State Police for keeping the case alive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe resolution of Roxanne Sharp\u2019s case is a testament to what happens when dedicated law enforcement officers refuse to let a victim be forgotten,\u201d Ferrell said. \u201cCold cases don\u2019t close themselves. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
District Attorney Collin Sims echoed the sentiment. \u201cThis 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. Today\u2019s arrests reflect our unwavering commitment to pursue justice \u2014 no matter how much time has passed \u2014 and to hold those responsible fully accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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