A man convicted of brutally killing his girlfriend by almost beheading her has disclosed the chilling motive behind the crime as he receives a life sentence.
In 2024, neighbors reported an unusual odor emanating from a nearby apartment, prompting the police to investigate. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers found the body of 52-year-old Genna Rae LaCombe on the porch, wrapped in blankets, towels, and a shower curtain. The victim’s remains had been left there for several days to decompose. Inside the apartment, Shane Levi Cole Roberts was discovered hiding in a closet with a dog and was subsequently arrested.
The coroner’s report revealed that LaCombe had sustained multiple stab wounds, with one wound nearly decapitating her, according to KTVQ. Roberts, aged 46, was sentenced to 85 years in prison after confessing to intentional homicide.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors presented substantial evidence, including Roberts’ callous justification for the heinous act, as indicated by Law & Crime. Investigations unveiled photos on Roberts’ phone depicting his girlfriend’s bloodied body in a bathtub, dated approximately nine days before the discovery of her remains. Additionally, the police recovered two bloodied knives, a hatchet, and a hammer.
Moreover, Roberts admitted to his mother in a phone call from Yellowstone County Jail that he killed LaCombe because she “pushed him too far.” The couple had been in a relationship for about two years and shared a residence in Billings, Montana.
A forensic psychologist assessing Roberts determined that he struggled with substance abuse and major depressive disorder. However, the evaluation did not find Roberts incapable of understanding his actions at the time of the crime.
Although prosecutors and Roberts’ defense counsel had agreed on a 70-year prison sentence, Judge Colette Davies imposed an additional 15 years. Addressing Roberts, she remarked, “I’m told that you loved this woman, but this is not love. This is abhorrent.”
LaCombe, survived by two children, was described in her obituary as a devoted mother who enjoyed arts and crafts, especially painting and beading. She also had a passion for cooking, with her chicken noodle soup and pork chop chili being family favorites. Music from the 80s filled her home with joy, despite her sons reluctantly joining in.
Meanwhile, a mother fights to prevent the parole of the man who brutally murdered her teenage son and concealed his body in a bin. Despite being deemed too dangerous for release after his 1999 conviction, Stuart Diamond’s potential parole is under review, with the victim’s determined mother providing evidence to oppose his release. Jean Hartley, from Liverpool, explained how her family was shattered by her son’s tragic death and expressed her resolve to ensure Diamond remains incarcerated, citing ongoing fear of encountering him.
