ABOUT THE CASE

Mary Lou Combs was last seen on Aug. 19, 2003, leaving her home in Palm Coast following an argument with her mother. She was never seen again, and was reported missing by her family on Oct. 9, 2003.

At the time of her disappearance, Mary Lou had a 14-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter.

Over the course of the investigation, detectives received tips about Mary Lou's disappearance, including locations to search for her body and her vehicle, but aerial and water searches of these locations yielded negative results, and the case went cold.

In February 2024, FCSO partnered with two volunteer dive teams, Recon Dive Recovery and Helo & Sub, in the search for Mary Lou. In October 2025, volunteers located a bumper underwater in the Intracoastal Waterway.

During a three-day operation beginning on Feb. 3, 2026 — which involved FCSO's Cold Case Unit, Major Case Unit, Marine Unit, Dive Team, and Crime Scene Investigation Unit; the FBI's Evidence Response Team and Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team; Recon Dive Recovery; Helo & Sub; the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and the District 23 Medical Examiner's Office — divers located a vehicle consistent with the one Mary Lou drove, items belonging to Mary Lou, and human remains believed to be Mary Lou's.

The investigation remains active as detectives work with the Medical Examiner's Office to confirm the identity of the remains and determine the cause of death.