Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct when the Carters were last seen.
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — A West Virginia man indicted for the murder of a 10-year-old girl missing since 2000 died Monday, according to authorities. That same day, West Virginia State Police say remains believed to belong to the girl and her mother were found at the man’s home.
Natasha “Alex” Carter, 10, and mother Susan Carter were last seen in August 2000. According to the FBI, Susan and Alex’s father were in a “contentious” custody battle over their daughter. Susan allegedly told him “he would never see his daughter again.” Alex’s grandmother also told investigators that she believed the 10-year-old feared her mother and did not want to live with her.
At the time of their disappearance, the FBI noted Susan may have been using the last name Webb, while Nexstar’s WTRF reports the pair may have been living at the home of Larry Webb.
“We were married. I think,” Webb told WVNS in August 2023, adding that he recalled being romantically involved with Susan when she and her daughter disappeared. He noted, however, that he could not remember the day the pair vanished. His caretaker at the time cautioned that Webb’s memory was failing because of dementia.
The caretaker also told WVNS that investigators had collected a portion of a bedroom wall and tile from the basement floor in Webb’s home while executing search warrants.
In recent years, investigators launched new efforts to solve the case. After reportedly recovering additional evidence, police executed search warrants at Webb’s home in 2022 and 2023.
Then, in October, Webb was indicted for Alex’s murder. He wasn’t taken into custody until earlier this month following an “extremely difficult and long battle,” Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield told WVNS.
In the days leading up to his arrest, state police, the FBI, and U.S. Marshalls had been excavating his backyard, Nexstar’s WVNS reported.
Then, on Monday, authorities confirmed that investigators discovered what are believed to be human remains presently believed to be those of Alex and Susan.
Earlier in the day, police said Webb suffered “a medical episode” while incarcerated and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. He was 84.
According to Hatfield, Webb is believed to have killed Susan Carter in a violent domestic situation after he allegedly noticed the finances were out of order. After shooting and killing Susan, Webb allegedly killed her daughter.
Webb reportedly told detectives he had immediately stored the bodies in his basement before burying them both in a shallow grave on his property. Authorities say he provided that location to them.
Additional details were not immediately available.