Warning: This article contains discussion of rape which some readers may find distressing.
New momentum has emerged in the 1982 killing of 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp, after a true crime podcast helped bring forward information and renewed attention more than 40 years after investigators first searched for answers.
The Louisiana teen was discovered on February 12, 1982, when authorities found her body in a wooded location around 30 miles north of New Orleans.
Forensic examinations concluded that Sharp had been raped and murdered, and that her body was left at the scene.
Despite years of work, limited physical evidence and a lack of witness cooperation meant the case remained unresolved for decades.
In 2023, the Louisiana State Police Covington Field Office assumed the lead role in the investigation and began a renewed review of evidence collected at the time.
The material was sent back for modern DNA testing, and investigators also revisited the case by re-interviewing people who had previously been considered witnesses or suspects.
Last year, officials also worked with Northshore Media Group on a six-part series, Who Killed Roxanne?.
Now, 43 years after Sharp’s death, a combination of updated DNA science and fresh tips sparked by the podcast has led to major developments.
On April 28, it was reported that four men have been charged in relation to the murder: Perry Wayne Taylor, 64, Darrell Dean Spell, 64, Carlos Cooper, 64, and Billy Williams Jr., 62.
“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.”
Podcast host Charles Dowdy said he is relieved the project helped generate movement in the case, and he hopes the new charges bring long-awaited justice for Sharp’s loved ones.
“When we started the podcast, we kind of thought nobody cared – we were quickly corrected.
“A lot of people stepped up and said they knew Roxanne, they remembered her, they were friends with her.”
Louisiana State Police spokesperson Marc Gremillion also emphasized the role the podcast played in encouraging people to come forward and reconnect investigators with potential witnesses.
“It was a very large help with getting that message out to the public, and then, therefore, those witnesses getting back to us.”
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you can chat online via
online.rainn.org