Cops today announced they have solved a Northshore murder that happened 44 years ago.
Louisiana State Police say they arrested four men who allegedly sexually assaulted and killed sixteen-year-old Roxanne Sharp in 1982 in Covington.
Her body was found in a wooded area near the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds in Covington.
Detectives say a podcast on the case last year was key.
"The podcast generated new information, leads, and witness cooperation previously unknown to investigators," Trooper Marc Gremillion explained in a news release.
He credited the tips and technological advancements for helping build a case for rape and murder against four men who were in their 20s and teens at the time of the crime.
Police have arrested:
• 64-year-old Perry Wayne Taylor of Covington, LA
• 64-year-old Darrell Dean Spell of Covington, LA
• 64-year-old Carlos Cooper of Covington, LA
• 62-year-old Billy Williams Jr. of Covington, LA
Billy Williams Jr. was arrested in Covington.
"At the same time, in a coordinated effort, agents with the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation located and arrested Darrell Spell at a residence in Dayton, Ohio."
Perry Taylor and Carlos Cooper were already in jail on unrelated charges.
"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."
Officials released the following statements...
District Attorney Collin Sims stated, “This 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’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 Department Chief Michael Ferrell 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. 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. 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.”
