BECKLEY, W.Va. — A special grand jury in Raleigh County has handed up murder indictments in four separate cold cases.
Raleigh County Prosecutor Ben Hatfield announced the indictments during a Tuesday news conference in Beckley.
Natalie Cochran
The special panel indicted Natalie Cochran, the former Raleigh County pharmacist, in the 2019 death of her husband Michael Cochran. It’s alleged she killed him by poisoning him with insulin. It’s the second time Cochran has been indicted but the original charge was dropped earlier this year until Michael Cochran’s body could be exhumed and further tested.
Hatfield told MetroNews a report received in recent weeks from the expert who tested the remains is a key part of the state’s case.
“The report opined that Mr. Cochran’s death was a homicide and that to a reasonable degree of medical certainty it was due to exogenous introduction of insulin into Mr. Cochran’s system,” Hatfield said.
Cochran, 42, was originally indicted in November 2021. It’s alleged she killed her husband while they were under federal investigation for operating a Ponzi scheme. Hatfield said investigators don’t believe Michael Cochran knew about the fraud but would soon find out.
“It is the belief of law enforcement and the evidence would support that the victim, Michael Cochran, did not know about the Ponzi scheme his wife was running,” Hatfield said. “It is apparent that in the very near future that it was eminent he was going to discover the scheme and the murder was an effort to cover up that financial problem.”
Natalie Cochran was later convicted on federal fraud charges for stealing $2 million from family and friends. She’s currently serving an 11-prison term at the federal prison in Hazelton. Her current release date is in 2030.
Larry Webb
The special grand jury also indicted Raleigh County resident Larry Webb in connection with the 2000 murder of 10-year-old Natasha “Alex” Carter. Carter and her mother Susan Carter were last seen on Aug. 8, 2000. Susan Carter was in a heated custody battle with Alex’s father at the time of the disappearance. She was in a relationship with Webb at the time.
Hatfield said the investigation picked up in the past two years with a joint team made of state police and FBI agents. He said bullet holes were found at Webb’s home.
“The bullet holes had been spackled over and wallpapered over and cleaned up and the blood that was behind the baseboard heater and behind the baseboard underneath the bullet holes belonged to Natasha (Alex) Carter,” Hatfield said.
Hatfield said investigators believe Susan Carter is also dead but they don’t have the evidence to support criminal charges. There have been no bodies found.
Webb, now in his 80s, is expected to be arrested in the coming days.
Daniel Johnson
A third cold case indictment named Daniel Johnson in the October 2016 death of David Baker at the Wilbrian Apartments in Beckley.
Terrance Battle
The special grand jury indicted Terrance Battle in the August 2004 death of Belinda Flynn. Her body was found lying in the middle of Neely Street in Beckley.
Message to community
Hatfield said his office has been working on the cases for most of his first term. He said getting the indictments all at the same time from a special grand jury was more spontaneous than planned but he said it does send a message to the community.
“Specifically to the victims’ families that have been suffering that just because it’s been a while since their loved one was lost that we in law enforcement and those in the prosecutor’s office didn’t forget about them,” Hatfield said.
The four defendants will now be scheduled for arraignments and then trial dates scheduled.