Decades-Long Search for Missing Mom Ends in 'Tragic' Discovery, Daughter Says Family Knew She 'Did Not Simply Leave Us'

The decades-long search for a missing mom of three in Florida who disappeared days before her daughter’s 13th birthday has seemingly ended.

Mary Lou Combs was 41 years old when she was reported missing to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on October 9, 2003, according to a press release shared on Facebook.

The release noted that “Combs was last seen on Aug. 19, 2003, leaving the home she shared periodically with her mother and her three children.”

The Palm Coast mom “had a history of disappearing,” but loved ones were “concerned” when she missed a birthday party for her daughter as “it was out of character for her not to show up for her children’s events.”

Authorities were informed after Combs failed to pick up a paycheck at her place of employment.

More than 20 years later, the sheriff’s office believe that Combs‘ remains have been found, answering questions that have been ongoing.

Keep reading to find out more…

Per the release, the sheriff’s office worked with Recon Dive Recovery, Helo & Sub, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team (USERT) – Miami Office, and the FBI – Jacksonville Evidence Response Team to recover “parts of a vehicle, clothing, child toys, and human remains believed to belong to Mary Lou Combs.”

The vehicle was “submerged approximately 14 to 17 feet underwater, upside down, and partially buried in muck” in the Intercoastal Waterway.

The discovery was possible in part thanks to the 2020 formation of the sheriff’s office’s Cold Case Unit, which was created in 2020 by Sheriff Rick Staly.

In February 2024, a dive time worked with the unit to search for Combs‘ 1996 Plymouth Neon Coupe.

Over a year later, they “located a bumper — of what appears to be the same make, model, and color of Combs’ vehicle.”

On February 3, 2026, the sheriff’s office worked with the the FBI to recover the vehicle, a process that took three days in part due to the car’s “fragile condition.”

“During the operation, FBI divers located and entered the vehicle through the broken driver side window and used dredging equipment to remove its contents by suctioning the items into a sluice basket on shore,” the release read, noting that “parts of the vehicle” were uncovered as well as a shoe “consistent with Combs‘ shoe size” and human remains.

“In addition to the vehicle parts and human remains collected, divers also located Combs’ Florida driver’s license, items known to belong to Combs, and children’s toys and child seat,” authorities stated, adding, “One of the bones recovered had a metal plate known to have been used in an ankle reconstruction on Combs for an ankle injury.”

The local medical examiner is investigating to determine a cause of death and DNA will be checked to confirm that the victim was correctly identified as Combs.

“All the evidence gathered thus far suggests that the remains we have recovered are those of Mary Lou Comb,” 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.”

While the investigation is still ongoing, authorities addressed a longstanding rumor that Combs “overdosed at a house party and someone then disposed of her body.”

“Current evidence indicates this may have been a tragic accident after she accidentally drove her car into the Intracoastal Waterway and likely drowned,” they wrote.

Natasha Harper — one of Combs‘ children, who turned 13 days after she disappeared — thanked authorities for their dedication to finding her mother in a press conference.

“As a little girl, my mother was my best friend and my everything when she went missing,” she said, via FlaglerLive. “Our worlds changed so much, and it has not been the same since.”

Continuing, she said, “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 thanked those involved in the search for her family’s “beautiful mother, sister, grandmother, daughter and friend,” saying Combs “would be honored to have such a team caring about her and helping her family find peace.”

“We’re forever grateful that we can finally say goodbye. Thank you to everyone that has played a part in this blessing. May our mother rest in paradise,” she said.

FlaglerLive noted that roughly 30 FBI agents were involved in the mission to recover the car due to its condition.

A mother who went missing in North Carolina nearly 25 years ago was recently found “alive and well.”