A 23-year-old mystery has come to an end following the positive identification of human remains recovered from the Intracoastal Waterway earlier this year. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office announced that the remains belong to Mary Lou Combs, a Palm Coast woman who disappeared without a trace in 2003.

Breakthrough Discovery

The breakthrough discovery was made in February during a joint operation involving the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and multiple assisting agencies. Investigators located a vehicle underwater, which contained the human remains alongside various personal items belonging to Combs.

Confirming the identity required extensive forensic laboratory work. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the UNT Health Center for Human Identification conducted DNA testing on the recovered remains.

The genetic profile was then compared against existing samples in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database, which included DNA previously submitted by Combs’ son and two of her siblings.

The laboratory analysis revealed a definitive match. Genetic testing determined that the DNA profile from the remains was entirely consistent with a parent-child relationship when compared to Combs’ son. Furthermore, the data showed results consistent with a full biological sibling relationship when compared to her siblings. Based on these conclusive scientific findings, detectives officially confirmed the identity, bringing closure to a missing persons case spanning more than two decades.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly credited the collaborative effort for finally resolving the long-standing case.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.