Cold case cracked after 40 years as teen’s alleged killers are caught after podcast helps find new leads Four men in Louisiana have been charged with aggravated rape and second-degree murder in connection with the 1982 killing of 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp. New DNA technology and a podcast produced by local radio host Charles Dowdy helped generate new leads and witness cooperation, leading to the arrests decades after the case went cold. Law enforcement agencies highlighted their commitment to pursuing justice, regardless of the time passed, and the victim’s niece expressed hope for healing and closure.

• Four men arrested decades after the 1982 rape and murder of 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp in Covington, Louisiana.
• Arrests were made possible by advancements in DNA technology and a podcast titled “Who Killed Roxanne.”
• The podcast generated new information, leads, and witness cooperation previously unknown to investigators.
• The arrested men are Perry Wayne Taylor, Darrell Dean Spell, Carlos Cooper, and Billy Williams Jr., all in their 60s.
• Louisiana State Police and Covington Police Department emphasized their commitment to solving cold cases through persistent investigation and interagency cooperation.
• Roxanne Sharp’s niece hopes the arrests will bring closure and healing to her family and community.
• Two of the accused, Taylor and Cooper, were already serving prison sentences for unrelated charges.