A 40-year-old cold case has been solved with the assistance of a podcast, following the discovery of the body of a 16-year-old girl in the woods of Louisiana. Roxanne Sharp, aged 16, was found murdered and raped in a wooded area in Covington on February 12, 1982. The brutal killing left Sharp's family grappling with grief and remained unsolved for decades, as law enforcement struggled to gather sufficient evidence or information.
Podcast Unearths Crucial Evidence
The podcast 'Who Killed Roxanne,' produced by local radio host Charles Dowdy, aired as a six-part series in 2025. It uncovered new information, leads, and witnesses that ultimately led to the arrests of four suspects in Sharp's gruesome murder. Detectives, Louisiana State Police troopers, SWAT, and the Covington Police Department arrested Billy Williams Jr., 62, at his home in Covington on April 21. Williams was charged with aggravated rape and second-degree murder and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail, according to a release from the Louisiana State Police (LSP).
Coordinated Arrests Across States
In a coordinated effort, agents with the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation located and arrested Darrell Spell, 64, at a residence in Dayton, Ohio. Spell was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and is awaiting extradition to Louisiana. On April 22, law enforcement made contact with Perry Taylor, 64, and Carlos Cooper, 64, who were already being held at the Louisiana Department of Corrections on unrelated charges. All four men face charges of aggravated rape and second-degree murder.
Law Enforcement Commitment to Justice
The LSP statement emphasized that these arrests highlight the continued commitment of law enforcement to pursue justice, regardless of the passage of time. Advancements in investigative techniques and strong interagency cooperation have made it possible to resolve cases once thought unsolvable. Marc Gremillion, an LSP spokesperson, told the Associated Press that the podcast helped investigators piece together Roxanne's movements days before her death and led to witnesses coming forward. Charles Dowdy noted that initially they thought nobody cared, but were quickly corrected as many people stepped up who knew or remembered Roxanne.
Community and Family Reactions
Michele Lappin, Sharp's niece, expressed gratitude for the hard work and love shown to the case, hoping that justice will bring healing and closure. Justin Joiner, a local resident whose father worked on the case, described it as a big black cloud on the community, noting that his father kept a case file until his passing. Covington Police Chief Michael Ferrell stated that the resolution is a testament to dedicated law enforcement officers who refuse to let a victim be forgotten. District Attorney Collin Sims echoed these sentiments, highlighting persistence, collaboration, and advancements in investigative technology as key factors.
Billy Williams's son, however, reported that his father protests his arrest and claims he would never hurt anyone. It remains unclear if any of the four suspects have obtained legal representation for comment.
