The Crime and Cold Case
Roxanne Sharp, a 16-year-old girl, was found dead on February 12, 1982, near the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds in Covington, Louisiana. She had been raped and strangled. Limited physical evidence and lack of public cooperation prevented investigators from solving the case, which remained cold for over four decades.
Reinvestigation and DNA Testing
In 2023, detectives with the Louisiana State Police's Covington field office took over the investigation. They reinterviewed witnesses and suspects, conducted an extensive review of the case file, gathered additional evidence and resubmitted original evidence for DNA analysis.
The Podcast's Impact
In 2025, Louisiana State Police partnered with local radio host Charles Dowdy to produce a podcast titled 'Who Killed Roxanne?' The series generated new information, leads and witness cooperation that had previously been unknown to investigators, directly contributing to the breakthroughs in the case.
Four Men Arrested
On April 21-22, 2026, four men were arrested and charged with aggravated rape and second-degree murder: Billy Williams Jr., 62, arrested in Covington; Darrell Dean Spell, 64, arrested in Dayton, Ohio and awaiting extradition; and Perry Wayne Taylor, 64, and Carlos Cooper, 64, both already incarcerated on unrelated charges in the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
Law Enforcement Response
Covington Police Chief Michael Ferrell and District Attorney Collin Sims credited the persistence and collaboration of law enforcement agencies, emphasizing that cold cases require dedicated officers who refuse to let victims be forgotten. Officials highlighted how persistence, collaboration and advances in investigative technology achieved justice after 44 years. 
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