Pervert co-worker is arrested over cold case murder of Albuquerque homeless advocate who was found naked with her hands, feet and mouth bound with duct tape: Suspect also accused of breaking in and stealing ex-girlfriend’s underwear and sex toys
- Danette Webb, 53, was found brutally murdered in 2014
- Her former charity worker, Lance Beaton, 59, is charged with her murder
- Beaton previously stole his ex's sex toys and stalked Webb prior to the murder, police said
The sex toy-obsessed colleague of a homeless advocate found brutally murdered nearly a decade ago has been arrested in connection with the cold case murder.
Danette Webb, 53, was found naked and bound with duct tape over her hands, feet and mouth in her Albuquerque home in 2014
Her murder baffled detectives, but on Friday police in New Mexico revealed they had charged a suspect, Lance Beaton, 59.
Beaton was Webb's former colleague at Noonday Ministries and was charged with the violent murder after DNA evidence linked him to the crime scene, police said.
“He deserves to suffer every day of his remaining life,” Webb's former partner Suzan Hagler told the newspaper Albuquerque Journalalthough she admitted that the emergence of a suspect was some relief.
Police said they have finally solved the cold case murder of homeless advocate Danette Webb, 53, who was brutally murdered and bound with duct tape in her Albuquerque home
Lance Beaton, 59, was charged with open murder in the 2014 killing. Police say he previously stalked an ex-girlfriend and stole sex toys from her home
Beaton allegedly stalked Webb and it is believed he made a copy of her house key and used it to enter her home, believing she would be out of town, the outlet reports.
He was previously accused of similarly stalking an ex-girlfriend, using a copied key to access her property and making off with sex toys, condoms and underwear.
After his arrest, a search of his home revealed the toys, which police said were likely “trophies,” as well as a roll of duct tape.
Webb's friends told investigators she was afraid someone would break into her home and “move things around,” according to a criminal complaint.
Police said Beaton likely killed her after he was startled when he realized she wasn't gone as he thought, and an altercation ensued.
The beloved volunteer was found dead on June 27, 2014 after NGO colleagues raised concerns when she failed to show up for work.
An exact cause of death was not immediately determined, although her ribs were broken and police immediately suspected foul play.
“Detectives have had few leads over the years, but this year they developed a lead that led to a suspect who also worked with Webb at Noonday in the past,” APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said in a news release.
Webb had told friends she feared someone had broken into her home and moved her things before she was killed, according to a criminal complaint.
Beaton was charged after returning a positive match for DNA evidence. Police later found sex toys and duct tape at his home.
He added that Beaton was arrested after being interviewed by the FBI. During the conversation, he stated that he was not close to Webb, but that he was able to reveal many details about her life, including her pets and her dating history.
The agency obtained a warrant to obtain a DNA sample after he initially refused to provide one because he was wary of law enforcement.
According to police, he returned a positive match for DNA evidence found at the scene.
Hagler described Webb as “the most loving, caring, generous, compassionate person I have ever known.”
“She had a big heart for every body,” she added. “I was in a terrible place when she was murdered for a very long time.
“Now just new feelings of pain, anger, sadness and grief come to the surface.”