• Media project revives long-dormant criminal case
• Breakthrough leads to arrests after new leads and witness accounts

Police in the US state of Louisiana have solved a murder case dating back more than four decades, after a podcast helped reopen the investigation and uncover new information that led to criminal charges against four men.

The case goes back to 1982, when 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp was killed in a wooded area in St. Tammany Parish, north of New Orleans. The crime remained unsolved for years due to limited evidence and the absence of reliable witnesses.

Over time, authorities worked with a local media company to produce a podcast titled “Who Killed Roxanne Sharp?”, which brought renewed public attention to the case through a multi-episode series. The renewed interest led to fresh information and increased public engagement.

Louisiana State Police said the podcast played a key role in generating new tips and encouraging former witnesses to come forward with details that had not previously been shared, helping investigators reconstruct the timeline of events.

In recent days, authorities announced charges of rape and second-degree murder against four men: Perry Wayne Taylor (64), Darrell Dean Spell (64), Carlos Cooper (64), and Billy Williams Jr. (62).

According to police, two of the suspects were already serving sentences in unrelated cases, while the other two were recently arrested. Investigators also noted that the victim had known the suspects and was familiar with the area where they lived.

The victim’s family welcomed the developments, expressing hope that the case would finally bring justice and closure after decades of uncertainty.

One of the suspects’ family members denied the allegations, insisting he had no involvement in the crime.

The podcast producers said public response helped revive interest in the case after years of silence, leading to new testimonies and previously unknown details.

Authorities also confirmed that the case had once been considered closed after a false confession from another serial offender, which was later dismissed after being proven unreliable.

Officials in the region hope the latest developments will bring an end to one of the state’s most enduring cold cases.