Police believe that human remains that were discovered in a submerged vehicle in Florida belong to Mary Lou Combs, who was first reported missing in 2003.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on Monday, February 23, that its response teams recovered human remains, parts of a vehicle, clothing and children’s toys in the Intracoastal Waterway near the 18th Road in Palm Coast.
The remains have not yet officially been identified, though authorities said they believe they belong to Combs. The mom of three has been missing for 22 years and was 41 years old at the time of her disappearance.
“All the evidence gathered thus far suggests that the remains we have recovered are those of Mary Lou Comb,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in the release. “While this is not the outcome anyone hoped for, we knew locating Mary alive was extremely unlikely given the length of time she had been missing. Our detectives and partnering agencies worked tirelessly to bring this family answers so they have the opportunity to finally lay their loved one to rest.”
The sheriff’s office said that Combs was last seen leaving the home she sometimes stayed in with her mom and three kids on August 19, 2003. Combs didn’t show up at her child’s birthday party days later, which left her family concerned.
Combs reportedly had a history of disappearing, though she didn’t normally miss major family events.
Her family reported her missing on October 9, 2003, after they learned she didn’t pick up her paycheck from her former employer, according to authorities. Detectives set out to find Combs and received many tips about her whereabouts, though they never had luck finding her.
The sheriff’s office formed the Cold Case Unit in 2020 to help investigate unsolved cases, and a volunteer dive team offered to search for Combs’ red 1996 Plymouth Neon Coupe in February 2024.
In October 2025, the dive team uncovered a bumper that matched the description of her vehicle in the Intracoastal Waterway.
The search continued in early February when a recovery team was able to retrieve the remnants of the vehicle. Officials said that the car “was submerged approximately 14 to 17 feet underwater, upside down, and partially buried in muck.”
Team members used dredging equipment to retrieve personal items from inside the car, which included a shoe that matched Combs’ shoe size. Additionally, the divers found children’s toys, Combs’ driver’s license and the remains.
Officials said that one of the bones had a metal plate, which was consistent with one that had been implanted in Combs’s ankle when she underwent reconstruction surgery.
The remains have since been sent to the medical examiner, who will determine the cause of death and will identify the body.
Combs’ daughter, Natasha Harper, emotionally opened up about the discovery during a press conference on February 23.
“As a little girl, my mother was my best friend and my everything when she went missing,” Harper said, per FlaglerLive. “Our worlds changed so much, and it has not been the same since. For over 22 years, we’ve known that our mother did not simply leave us, but we still grieve her and missed her kind and loving presence.”
Harper, who was just 13 years old when her mom disappeared, added, “Thank you to everyone that has played a part in this blessing. May our mother rest in paradise.”
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