dailyloe.com – Four men have been arrested in connection with the 1982 murder of 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp in Covington, Louisiana. The arrests followed a cold case investigation that lasted over four decades. DNA testing and a true-crime podcast played crucial roles in reopening the case.
Roxanne Sharp’s body was discovered on February 12, 1982, near the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds. She had been raped and strangled, leaving investigators with little physical evidence. For 43 years, no arrests were made, and her killers remained free.
In 2023, detectives from the Louisiana State Police’s Covington field office revisited the case. They reinterviewed witnesses, reviewed the case file, and resubmitted evidence for DNA analysis. This thorough investigation led to new insights.
In 2024, the Louisiana State Police cold case unit collaborated with local radio host Charles Dowdy to create the podcast “Who Killed Roxanne?” This series generated new leads and encouraged witness cooperation, previously unknown to investigators.
On April 21, 2026, the arrests occurred. Billy Williams Jr., 62, was taken into custody in Covington. Darrell Dean Spell, 64, was arrested at his home in Dayton, Ohio, and is awaiting extradition to Louisiana. Perry Wayne Taylor, 64, and Carlos Cooper, 64, both of Covington, were already incarcerated on unrelated charges when they contacted detectives.
All four men face charges of aggravated rape and second-degree murder. Covington Police Chief Michael Ferrell praised the efforts of law enforcement in keeping the case alive. He stated, “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.”
District Attorney Collin Sims echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of persistence and collaboration in solving cold cases. He said, “This case is a powerful example of what persistence, collaboration, and advancements in investigative technology can accomplish.”
