In a potential breakthrough in an unsolved missing West Virginia mother and daughter case, West Virginia State Police and the FBI confirmed that new evidence has been found.
The Pittsburgh Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said Tuesday that “law enforcement activity” at a Kyle Lane home in Beckley last week is in connection with the 2000 disappearance of Susan Carter, 40, and her daughter, Natasha “Alex” Carter, 10.
“We, along with our law enforcement partners, are working diligently to bring answers to Alex Carter’s family,” FBI spokesperson Catherin Coennen said, according to NBC 4.
Natasha and Susan were last seen in the Beckley region on or around August 8, 2000. Their disappearance coincided with a custody dispute between Susan and Natasha’s father, Rick Lafferty. Shortly before her disappearance, Natasha moved in with her mother and her mother’s new boyfriend, police said.
Captain R.A. Maddy with the West Virginia State Police said, “the FBI crime scene team was able to identify and recover additional forensic evidence related to this investigation,” while searching the home.
State police confirmed that two separate search warrants were carried out at the residence, WVVA News reports.
A caretaker at the home told WVVA that law enforcement found a bullet in the basement that had Natasha’s DNA on it. Natasha’s father, Rick Lafferty, also told WVVA News that he had been told about the bullet prior to the search last week.
Lafferty added that his daughter had been by his side for most of her childhood, until Susan Carter and her new boyfriend took her to Disney on a trip. When they returned, Susan Carter allegedly demanded custody of the child, leading to a heated custody battle.
Lafferty added that although the FBI listed Alex as missing on August 8, 2000, he believes she vanished months prior, following a mediation a meeting. Lafferty said that during the meeting, Susan Carter told him he would never see Natasha again.
Afterward, Susan failed to show up to subsequent meetings.
“She never called,” Natasha’s grandmother, Shirley Day, said. “She never called her daddy. It was like she disappeared off of the face of the earth and anytime we got a lead, we hit a stone wall.”
On Wednesday, the FBI and State Police doubled the reward to $20,000 for information that helps solve the case.
Anyone with information on the should the State Police’s Beckley detachment at (304) 256-6700. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Natasha Carter/Handout]
