There is also a book written about this murder that I'm going to try and find to read.  Maybe there will be more similarities.. I can't help but think that either Lynch or Frost had this story in mind at some point.

Let me know when you find it.

Do  you mean the  murder of Betty Williams? There's a very detailed story of it here. It does sound a lot like Laura, minus BOB of course.

Just wanted to add that Odessa is only about 40 miles from New Mexico... and maybe a certain bug... and a certain little girl who lived on a lane.

Another connection between Odessa (or at least episode 18) and the girl in New Mexico: The Platters "My Prayer," playing as Diane and Cooper make love (or whatever that was), and also the night the creature crawls in the girl's mouth.