August 20, 2023 • 13 mins
On the weekend of June 27th, 2014 Danette Webb left work and contacted her friend, Debbie, to let her know that she was having back pain and would not be able to spend time with her. But when Danette stopped responding to Debbie’s texts she began to worry. Debbie had every reason to be worried. This is the story of the unsolved murder of Danette Webb.
If you or someone you know has information that could lead to the arrest of the person responsible for the murder of Danette Webb cal 505-843-STOP or go to www.p3tips.com you can remain anonymous.
Thanks to Charlie from Crimelines and Crimelines and Consequences for the research on today's episode
Special thanks to Navigating Advocacy for the voice-over work!
Promos: Crossing the Tape
Ye Olde Crime Podcast
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-consequences-true-crime--4347262/support.
If you or someone you know has information that could lead to the arrest of the person responsible for the murder of Danette Webb cal 505-843-STOP or go to www.p3tips.com you can remain anonymous.
Thanks to Charlie from Crimelines and Crimelines and Consequences for the research on today's episode
Special thanks to Navigating Advocacy for the voice-over work!
Promos: Crossing the Tape
Ye Olde Crime Podcast
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-consequences-true-crime--4347262/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Signed the crime Saint Long and Crossthe Tape with us Brendan and Harry on
our true crime podcast, Crossing theTape. We are a married couple who
met while working as a co ata CSI at a homicide scene. We're
passionate about our jobs and justice beingserved. Our episodes include rare, lesser
known cases that we found interesting.Subscribe to Crossing the Tape wherever you listen
(00:24):
to your podcasts to hear about raremurder cases, heist, forensic history,
and more. On the weekend ofJune twenty seven, twenty fourteen, Dinette
Webb left for work and contacted herfriend Debbie to let her know that she
was having back pain and would notbe able to spend time with her.
But when Dinette stopped responding to Debbie'stext, she began to worry. Debbie
(00:47):
had every reason to be worried.This is a story of the unsolved murder
of Denette Webb. I am EricCarter, ln Dean and this is True
Consequences Hay True Advocate. Before weget into this case, I have a
(01:42):
few announcements to make. This episodewill be a bit shorter than usual,
but that is due to the factthat there is not much information available on
the case. It remains unsolved afternine years, and I have some sad
news to share with you. Aftertwo and a half years of working with
me, Jackie Moranti has resigned aspreducer and writer. Jackie, thank you
for all you have done for meand for these cases and families. I
(02:06):
will be forever grateful to you foryour work and your friendship. Having said
that, my responsibilities have increased atwork as well, so I have asked
some of my podcast friends to bringyou some episodes over the coming weeks while
I get back on track with writingand researching. Thank you so much for
your patience as I navigate through doingthis without my right hand. I also
(02:28):
want to thank Whitney and Melissa fromNavigating Advocacy for helping me with some of
the voiceover work on this episode.Okay, let's get into the case.
Dennette Webb grew up in Pennsylvania,where she graduated from Ferndelle High School in
nineteen seventy eight. She was partof a core group of friends in Ferndell.
One of those longtime friends was CherylSmith. Cheryl told The Tribune Democrat
(02:50):
the following she was my best friendin high school. We would go roller
skating. She was in the band. We sat next to each other in
school. In high school, Dednettwould sometimes say crazy things that would make
people laugh. One time, inI think physics class, she got in
trouble for talking and the teacher movedto Nette. Her response was forever and
ever and it cracked everyone up.I still remember that. Dinett played the
(03:13):
flute in high school band and wasknown to everyone as someone who loved life.
Another friend, Jennifer Priest, wasquoted saying she was a free spirit.
She would always write and say,I hope you're having fun. I
hope you're doing something for yourself.She would do anything for anybody, and
she loved to laugh. She hadsuch a great laugh. Priest described Anette
(03:38):
as a hippie who was known foralways flashing a peace sign in Her motto
was peace and Love. She lovedthe outdoors, and camping and hiking were
some of her favorite activities. Herfavorite musician was John Lennon, and she
cried on the anniversary of his deathevery year. Priest also told the Tribute
(03:59):
Democrat she would do anything for anybody, and she loved to laugh. She
had a great laugh. Dnette gotmarried at nineteen years old. She called
into a radio station to request asong and met the DJ at the time,
Stephen Webb, who coincidentally had thesame last name as her. The
two married and Denette went to collegeand then on to graduate school in North
(04:21):
Carolina. She obtained a master's degreein psychology and started working with inmates in
the North Carolina prison system before shemoved to Albuquerque, where she started working
with people with developmental disabilities. Shewas also a consistent volunteer at Noonday Ministries,
which is a local organization that providesfood and support to the unhoused.
(04:42):
The marriage eventually dissolved, but Stephenwould go on to say that Denette was
the most empathetic person he'd ever met. Denette was a very private person.
She only let certain people see certainparts of her life. She didn't have
Facebook, and she preferred to haveand write letters to loved ones over sending
an email. In nineteen ninety four, Denett started dating a woman named Susan.
(05:08):
In nineteen ninety six, they celebratedtheir union with a commitment ceremony.
The couple remained together for thirteen yearsand eventually separated in two thousand and seven.
Susan and Denette remained close despite thefact that their relationship had ended.
Denette was said to have remained single. Denette was someone who poured themselves into
(05:28):
helping others. She was a socialworker as well as a volunteer. She
spent all of her time working withvulnerable populations. Her positive giving spirit inspired
so many of her friends and family. She didn't own a television and did
not keep up with the news.She didn't like negativity and did everything she
could to avoid it. She wouldrather spend her time with her dogs and
(05:49):
go on hikes than to be gluedto a screen. On the weekend of
June twenty seven, twenty fourteen,Denette Webb left work and contacted her friend
Debbie to let her know that shewas having back paint and would not be
able to spend time with her.But when Denette stopped responding to Debby's texts,
she began to worry. Debbie hadevery reason to be worried. Debbie
(06:12):
was not the only person trying tocontact Denette that weekend. No one was
able to get in touch with her, and this was extremely out of character
for her. Then to make thingseven more suspicious, the Neette never showed
up to work on Monday. Coworkers and friends immediately knew that something was
wrong. Denette was never known tono call or no show. When police
(06:35):
arrived, they found a screen thathad been removed from a bedroom window in
Denette's house. Once inside, policestarted looking around. It didn't take them
long to find Denette. She wasfound bound and naked and unfortunately deceased,
in the same bedroom where the screenhad been removed. It was believed that
(06:56):
she died either Friday evening or Saturdaymorning. Her body was showing signs of
decomposition by Monday, and that iswhy police believed it happened earlier in the
weekend. The cause of death wasnot immediately apparent to investigators, but there
were a lot of circumstances that hadthem concerned. There was some fluid on
the floor that one friend believed wasblood, but police later said that actually
(07:19):
was fluid from the decomposition of Denette'sbody. The fact that Denette was nude,
her hands and legs were bound withduct tape. Her mouth also had
uncovered with duct tape. This ledpolice to believe that foul play had occurred.
If you coupled this with the factthat there were obvious signs of forced
entry, police began to suspect thatthis was indeed a homicide investigation. There
(07:44):
were also signs of a struggle.In the kitchen, police found a plant
had been thrown on the ground,Denette's dogs were locked up in another room,
and a mirror had been turned toface the other way. Denette's beloved
dogs were rehomed after spending a fewdays at the animal shelter in order to
recover from being locked in a roomfor the weekend. The autopsy report showed
(08:05):
that the Net had been physically assaulted. She had two broken ribs, as
well as scrapes, cuts and contusions. It's possible that the Net had been
strangled, but because of the rateof decomposition, but there wasn't enough evidence
to confirm it. The Net couldhave possibly been suffocated, but there wasn't
enough evidence to rule it out.Because of this, the Office of the
(08:26):
Medical Examiner ruled the manner and causeof death as undetermined. Police started investigating
the death as a homicide, eventhough Omai said the death was undetermined.
Police have been unwilling to interview withthe media and had provided very little in
terms of information related to this case, at least to the public. With
regards to eyewitnesses to the murder,there have been very few people who have
(08:48):
come forward with information. The net'sneighbor claimed that one night during the Fateful
weekend, she heard screaming. Shewas talking to her husband about it,
but he told not to worry aboutit. It was probably some cats,
so they didn't do anything. Aspokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department said that
there was male DNA found on Denette'sbody, but they wouldn't reveal exactly where
(09:11):
it was found or if it hadbeen tested and compared to any potential suspects.
One strange thing here is that therewas three thousand dollars in cash in
Denette's freezer that had not been touchedat all. Now, it's likely that
somebody may not have known that wasthere and wouldn't have gone looking in the
freezer for money, But Denette's walletwas also still at the house, and
(09:35):
it contained about two hundred dollars aswell as several credit cards, none of
which were touched. This was nota robbery, but it also felt like
it wasn't a sexual assault either.The autopsy did not show any physical signs
of assault. Now that doesn't meanthat she wasn't assaulted sexually, but there
was no physical evidence of a sexualassault. It's really strange and it has
(10:01):
left more questions than answers as towhy Denette was senselessly killed. A caring
woman who volunteered her time and energyto help others, A woman who was
called the most empathetic person her exhusband had ever known. Why would anyone
want to hurt her? As Isaid, police have been very quiet about
(10:22):
this case. To this day,police have not announced any suspects or persons
of interest related to the murder ofDenette Webb. Friends and family continue to
honor Jannette in their lives as theytry to move on in a world without
this kind and compassionate soul. Awoman who has left a great emptiness in
her absence. A woman who leftseventy four thousand dollars to the arts program
(10:48):
at Healthcare for the Homeless. AsI closed this episode, I want to
share some of the ways Denette's lovedones have honored her. Shortly after Denette
died, her co workers and friendsheld him a more ill for her near
her home. The Albuquerry Journal reportedthat more than one hundred people who knew
her from work, from her jobvolunteering at Noonday Ministries, and even people
(11:11):
from the dog park came to paytheir respects to this remarkable woman. Co
worker Debbie Decante made a peace signout of rocks in her flower garden as
a memorial to her friend Denette.On July sixth, twenty fourteen, Denette's
former partner Seasan said the following.All Denette diad was give and give and
(11:33):
love from the bottom of her heart. Why was she taken? Why?
On the seventh anniversary of Denette's murder, her friend Debbie told KOAT News,
I probably think of her at leasta couple of times a week, if
not more. I just think ofthings I would like to tell her.
If you, or anyone you knowhas information that can lead to the arrest
(11:54):
of the person or people responsible forthe murder of Denette Webb, please get
in touch with law enforcement. Youcan remain anonymous and you can give a
confidential tip through crime Stoppers at fiveO five eight four three stop or on
their website at P three tips dotcom. That's the letter p the number
(12:15):
three t ips dot com. Thanksfor listening and stay safe New Mexico.
(13:03):
Do you love true crime but arelooking for something different. Do you like
learning about cases so off the wallthey can't possibly be true. Do you
love history but want to hear aboutwhat they didn't teach you in school.
Do you like laughing awkwardly about casesthat are bizarre and a little strange.
Then we have the podcasts for you. Join me Lindsay and me Madison for
(13:28):
Yield Crime, where we discuss thefunny, strange, and obscure crimes of
yesteryear. Listen every Wednesday wherever youget your podcasts, and we'll see you
next time with another tale as oldas crime.
Signed the crime Saint Long and Crossthe Tape with us Brendan and Harry on
our true crime podcast, Crossing theTape. We are a married couple who
met while working as a co ata CSI at a homicide scene. We're
passionate about our jobs and justice beingserved. Our episodes include rare, lesser
known cases that we found interesting.Subscribe to Crossing the Tape wherever you listen
(00:24):
to your podcasts to hear about raremurder cases, heist, forensic history,
and more. On the weekend ofJune twenty seven, twenty fourteen, Dinette
Webb left for work and contacted herfriend Debbie to let her know that she
was having back pain and would notbe able to spend time with her.
But when Dinette stopped responding to Debbie'stext, she began to worry. Debbie
(00:47):
had every reason to be worried.This is a story of the unsolved murder
of Denette Webb. I am EricCarter, ln Dean and this is True
Consequences Hay True Advocate. Before weget into this case, I have a
(01:42):
few announcements to make. This episodewill be a bit shorter than usual,
but that is due to the factthat there is not much information available on
the case. It remains unsolved afternine years, and I have some sad
news to share with you. Aftertwo and a half years of working with
me, Jackie Moranti has resigned aspreducer and writer. Jackie, thank you
for all you have done for meand for these cases and families. I
(02:06):
will be forever grateful to you foryour work and your friendship. Having said
that, my responsibilities have increased atwork as well, so I have asked
some of my podcast friends to bringyou some episodes over the coming weeks while
I get back on track with writingand researching. Thank you so much for
your patience as I navigate through doingthis without my right hand. I also
(02:28):
want to thank Whitney and Melissa fromNavigating Advocacy for helping me with some of
the voiceover work on this episode.Okay, let's get into the case.
Dennette Webb grew up in Pennsylvania,where she graduated from Ferndelle High School in
nineteen seventy eight. She was partof a core group of friends in Ferndell.
One of those longtime friends was CherylSmith. Cheryl told The Tribune Democrat
(02:50):
the following she was my best friendin high school. We would go roller
skating. She was in the band. We sat next to each other in
school. In high school, Dednettwould sometimes say crazy things that would make
people laugh. One time, inI think physics class, she got in
trouble for talking and the teacher movedto Nette. Her response was forever and
ever and it cracked everyone up.I still remember that. Dinett played the
(03:13):
flute in high school band and wasknown to everyone as someone who loved life.
Another friend, Jennifer Priest, wasquoted saying she was a free spirit.
She would always write and say,I hope you're having fun. I
hope you're doing something for yourself.She would do anything for anybody, and
she loved to laugh. She hadsuch a great laugh. Priest described Anette
(03:38):
as a hippie who was known foralways flashing a peace sign in Her motto
was peace and Love. She lovedthe outdoors, and camping and hiking were
some of her favorite activities. Herfavorite musician was John Lennon, and she
cried on the anniversary of his deathevery year. Priest also told the Tribute
(03:59):
Democrat she would do anything for anybody, and she loved to laugh. She
had a great laugh. Dnette gotmarried at nineteen years old. She called
into a radio station to request asong and met the DJ at the time,
Stephen Webb, who coincidentally had thesame last name as her. The
two married and Denette went to collegeand then on to graduate school in North
(04:21):
Carolina. She obtained a master's degreein psychology and started working with inmates in
the North Carolina prison system before shemoved to Albuquerque, where she started working
with people with developmental disabilities. Shewas also a consistent volunteer at Noonday Ministries,
which is a local organization that providesfood and support to the unhoused.
(04:42):
The marriage eventually dissolved, but Stephenwould go on to say that Denette was
the most empathetic person he'd ever met. Denette was a very private person.
She only let certain people see certainparts of her life. She didn't have
Facebook, and she preferred to haveand write letters to loved ones over sending
an email. In nineteen ninety four, Denett started dating a woman named Susan.
(05:08):
In nineteen ninety six, they celebratedtheir union with a commitment ceremony.
The couple remained together for thirteen yearsand eventually separated in two thousand and seven.
Susan and Denette remained close despite thefact that their relationship had ended.
Denette was said to have remained single. Denette was someone who poured themselves into
(05:28):
helping others. She was a socialworker as well as a volunteer. She
spent all of her time working withvulnerable populations. Her positive giving spirit inspired
so many of her friends and family. She didn't own a television and did
not keep up with the news.She didn't like negativity and did everything she
could to avoid it. She wouldrather spend her time with her dogs and
(05:49):
go on hikes than to be gluedto a screen. On the weekend of
June twenty seven, twenty fourteen,Denette Webb left work and contacted her friend
Debbie to let her know that shewas having back paint and would not be
able to spend time with her.But when Denette stopped responding to Debby's texts,
she began to worry. Debbie hadevery reason to be worried. Debbie
(06:12):
was not the only person trying tocontact Denette that weekend. No one was
able to get in touch with her, and this was extremely out of character
for her. Then to make thingseven more suspicious, the Neette never showed
up to work on Monday. Coworkers and friends immediately knew that something was
wrong. Denette was never known tono call or no show. When police
(06:35):
arrived, they found a screen thathad been removed from a bedroom window in
Denette's house. Once inside, policestarted looking around. It didn't take them
long to find Denette. She wasfound bound and naked and unfortunately deceased,
in the same bedroom where the screenhad been removed. It was believed that
(06:56):
she died either Friday evening or Saturdaymorning. Her body was showing signs of
decomposition by Monday, and that iswhy police believed it happened earlier in the
weekend. The cause of death wasnot immediately apparent to investigators, but there
were a lot of circumstances that hadthem concerned. There was some fluid on
the floor that one friend believed wasblood, but police later said that actually
(07:19):
was fluid from the decomposition of Denette'sbody. The fact that Denette was nude,
her hands and legs were bound withduct tape. Her mouth also had
uncovered with duct tape. This ledpolice to believe that foul play had occurred.
If you coupled this with the factthat there were obvious signs of forced
entry, police began to suspect thatthis was indeed a homicide investigation. There
(07:44):
were also signs of a struggle.In the kitchen, police found a plant
had been thrown on the ground,Denette's dogs were locked up in another room,
and a mirror had been turned toface the other way. Denette's beloved
dogs were rehomed after spending a fewdays at the animal shelter in order to
recover from being locked in a roomfor the weekend. The autopsy report showed
(08:05):
that the Net had been physically assaulted. She had two broken ribs, as
well as scrapes, cuts and contusions. It's possible that the Net had been
strangled, but because of the rateof decomposition, but there wasn't enough evidence
to confirm it. The Net couldhave possibly been suffocated, but there wasn't
enough evidence to rule it out.Because of this, the Office of the
(08:26):
Medical Examiner ruled the manner and causeof death as undetermined. Police started investigating
the death as a homicide, eventhough Omai said the death was undetermined.
Police have been unwilling to interview withthe media and had provided very little in
terms of information related to this case, at least to the public. With
regards to eyewitnesses to the murder,there have been very few people who have
(08:48):
come forward with information. The net'sneighbor claimed that one night during the Fateful
weekend, she heard screaming. Shewas talking to her husband about it,
but he told not to worry aboutit. It was probably some cats,
so they didn't do anything. Aspokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department said that
there was male DNA found on Denette'sbody, but they wouldn't reveal exactly where
(09:11):
it was found or if it hadbeen tested and compared to any potential suspects.
One strange thing here is that therewas three thousand dollars in cash in
Denette's freezer that had not been touchedat all. Now, it's likely that
somebody may not have known that wasthere and wouldn't have gone looking in the
freezer for money, But Denette's walletwas also still at the house, and
(09:35):
it contained about two hundred dollars aswell as several credit cards, none of
which were touched. This was nota robbery, but it also felt like
it wasn't a sexual assault either.The autopsy did not show any physical signs
of assault. Now that doesn't meanthat she wasn't assaulted sexually, but there
was no physical evidence of a sexualassault. It's really strange and it has
(10:01):
left more questions than answers as towhy Denette was senselessly killed. A caring
woman who volunteered her time and energyto help others, A woman who was
called the most empathetic person her exhusband had ever known. Why would anyone
want to hurt her? As Isaid, police have been very quiet about
(10:22):
this case. To this day,police have not announced any suspects or persons
of interest related to the murder ofDenette Webb. Friends and family continue to
honor Jannette in their lives as theytry to move on in a world without
this kind and compassionate soul. Awoman who has left a great emptiness in
her absence. A woman who leftseventy four thousand dollars to the arts program
(10:48):
at Healthcare for the Homeless. AsI closed this episode, I want to
share some of the ways Denette's lovedones have honored her. Shortly after Denette
died, her co workers and friendsheld him a more ill for her near
her home. The Albuquerry Journal reportedthat more than one hundred people who knew
her from work, from her jobvolunteering at Noonday Ministries, and even people
(11:11):
from the dog park came to paytheir respects to this remarkable woman. Co
worker Debbie Decante made a peace signout of rocks in her flower garden as
a memorial to her friend Denette.On July sixth, twenty fourteen, Denette's
former partner Seasan said the following.All Denette diad was give and give and
(11:33):
love from the bottom of her heart. Why was she taken? Why?
On the seventh anniversary of Denette's murder, her friend Debbie told KOAT News,
I probably think of her at leasta couple of times a week, if
not more. I just think ofthings I would like to tell her.
If you, or anyone you knowhas information that can lead to the arrest
(11:54):
of the person or people responsible forthe murder of Denette Webb, please get
in touch with law enforcement. Youcan remain anonymous and you can give a
confidential tip through crime Stoppers at fiveO five eight four three stop or on
their website at P three tips dotcom. That's the letter p the number
(12:15):
three t ips dot com. Thanksfor listening and stay safe New Mexico.
(13:03):
Do you love true crime but arelooking for something different. Do you like
learning about cases so off the wallthey can't possibly be true. Do you
love history but want to hear aboutwhat they didn't teach you in school.
Do you like laughing awkwardly about casesthat are bizarre and a little strange.
Then we have the podcasts for you. Join me Lindsay and me Madison for
(13:28):
Yield Crime, where we discuss thefunny, strange, and obscure crimes of
yesteryear. Listen every Wednesday wherever youget your podcasts, and we'll see you
next time with another tale as oldas crime.
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