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 colleague Lance Beaton, 59, has been charged with her murder.
- Beaton had previously stolen his ex’s sex toys and stalked Webb before the killing, police said.
The sex toy-obsessed colleague of a homeless advocate who was found brutally murdered nearly a decade ago has been arrested on suspicion of an unsolved murder.
Danette Webb, 53, was found naked and bound with duct tape on her hands, feet and mouth in her Albuquerque home in 2014.
Her killing has puzzled detectives, but New Mexico police said Friday they have charged the suspect, 59-year-old Lance Beaton.
Beaton was Webb’s former colleague at Noonday Ministries and was charged with capital murder after DNA evidence linked him to the scene, police said.
“He deserves to suffer every day of the rest of his life,” said Webb’s former partner Susan Hagler. Albuquerque Journalalthough she admitted that the suspect’s appearance brought her some relief.
Police say they have finally solved the cold case of the murder of 53-year-old homeless advocate Danette Webb, who was brutally murdered and bound with duct tape in her Albuquerque home.
Lance Beaton, 59, was charged with open murder in a 2014 death. Police said he had previously stalked his ex-girlfriend and stole sex toys from her home.
Beaton was believed to have been stalking 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 reported.
He had previously been accused of stalking an ex-girlfriend in a similar manner, using a copied key to access her property and stealing sex toys, condoms and underwear.
After his arrest, a search turned up toys that police said were likely “trophies” and a roll of duct tape.
According to the criminal complaint, Webb’s friends told investigators she was afraid someone was breaking into her home and “moving things around.”
Police said Beaton likely killed her after he became scared when he realized she had not left as he thought and an argument ensued.
The beloved volunteer was found dead on June 27, 2014, after colleagues from the NGO expressed concern about her failure to show up for work.
The exact cause of death was not immediately determined, although she suffered broken ribs and police immediately suspected foul play.
“Over the years, detectives had few leads, but this year they developed a lead that led to a suspect who also worked with Webb in the past at Noonday,” Gilbert Gallegos, APD spokesman, said in a news release.
According to the criminal complaint, Webb told friends she feared someone might have broken into her home and moved her belongings before she was killed.
Beaton was charged after he tested positive in a DNA test. Police later found sex toys and duct tape in his home.
He added that Beaton was arrested after questioning by the FBI. During the conversation, he stated that he was not close to Webb, but was able to reveal many details about her life, including her pets and her dating history.
The agency was issued a warrant to obtain a DNA sample after it initially refused to provide it, saying it feared law enforcement.
It confirmed a positive match to DNA evidence found at the scene, according to police.
Hagler described Webb as “the most loving, caring, generous and compassionate person I have ever known.”
“She had a huge heart for every person,” she added. “I was in a terrible place for a very long time when she was killed.
“Now it just brings up more feelings of resentment, anger, sadness and grief.”