Cold Case Unit identified perpetrators during murder examinations

Published on February 24, 2025

Charlotte, NC – (Monday, February 24, 2025) – Detective with the Cold Case Unit of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police (CMPD) determined a deceased perpetrator in a 40-year cold examination.

On November 19, 1984, the officials answered at around 3:12 p.m. to a missing person who asked a service in the 8000 block of the Eaglewind -Drive block. The victim Sandee Cornett, 26, was reported by a neighbor as missing after Cornett had not appeared to work.

A few months after the examination, Larry Gene Bell (DOB 10/30/1948) was identified as a suspect in Cornett's disappearance. Bell was interviewed by investigators from several agencies, but was not charged at that time. Bell was later convicted of two murders in South Carolina and sentenced to death. He was executed on October 4, 1996.

The Cold Case unit of CMPD with the financing of the “National Sexual Assault Kit” initiative has completed a complete review of the case work and evidence that has been collected over four decades. Detective consulted the district of the district in Mecklenburg as part of this review. After completion, Detective found that Bell kidnapped and murdered Sandee Cornett, and he would have been charged if he was still alive.

Detectives have now clarified this case as the death of the perpetrator. The Cornett family was informed about these developments.

Sandnee Cornett's remains have never been found, and it remains listed in several national databases, including Namus. Everyone with information is asked to contact the CMPD Cold Case Unit under (704) 432 tips.

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