More than forty years after 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp was raped and murdered in Covington, authorities say the case that has haunted the Northshore for decades has finally broken open. At a news conference at the St. Tammany Parish Courthouse this week, officials announced that four men have been arrested in connection with her killing, a development that has stirred up long-buried grief for Sharp’s family and the wider community.
Arrests and Charges
Investigators say arrest warrants for aggravated rape and second-degree murder were issued for four suspects: Perry Wayne Taylor, 64; Darrell Dean Spell, 64; Carlos Cooper, 64; and Billy Williams Jr., 62, after a fresh review of the old case file, according to WVUE. State Police and prosecutors say updated DNA testing, combined with new cooperation from witnesses, helped link the men to Sharp’s 1982 rape and murder. Officials have not disclosed any details about a possible motive, saying only that those answers will have to wait for the courtroom.
How the Arrests Unfolded
According to WAFB, State Police detectives, LSP Troop L, LSP SWAT and the Covington Police Department served a search warrant and arrested Williams at his home on April 21, then booked him into the St. Tammany Parish Jail. Agents with the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation picked up Spell in Dayton, Ohio, where he was booked into the Montgomery County jail and is now waiting to be extradited back to Louisiana. Authorities say Taylor and Cooper were notified of the new charges on April 22 and are already in the custody of the Louisiana Department of Corrections on unrelated convictions.
How Investigators Got Here
The breakthrough came after Louisiana State Police detectives took over the cold case in 2023, dug back through the original evidence and witness statements, and sent key items out for modern DNA analysis, WDSU reports. Officials also credit renewed public attention from a 2025 podcast, “Who Killed Roxanne,” produced with Northshore Media Group and State Police public affairs, which generated new leads and encouraged witnesses to talk. Detectives say they followed up on those tips, helping move the case to the point of making arrests. The podcast remains available online.
Official Reaction
“This case is a powerful example of what persistence, collaboration, and advancements in investigative technology can accomplish,” 22nd Judicial District Attorney Collin Sims said, according to WVUE. Covington Police Chief Michael Ferrell, noting that the case has lingered for decades, added that “cold cases don’t close themselves,” and praised both the relentless work of investigators and the determination of Sharp’s family, who kept her name and story in the public eye.
Legal Next Steps
The four men were arrested on warrants for aggravated rape and second-degree murder, and prosecutors say formal charging documents and any indictments will follow after the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s office finishes reviewing the evidence. Spell’s extradition from Ohio is still pending, and arraignments in 22nd Judicial District Court are expected in the coming weeks, local coverage notes. All four defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Louisiana State Police at (985) 635-3167 or email [email protected], according to WDSU. For more background on the case and images from the courthouse announcement, including scenes from the press conference, see coverage and photos published by NOLA.
