Volunteer veterans help crack 22-year mystery, recovering remains believed to be missing woman

Divers find car, personal items, and bones of Mary Lou Combs, who vanished in 2003

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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After 22 years, investigators in Flagler County, Florida, say they have likely found the remains of Mary Lou Combs, a mother who vanished in 2003. Bones recovered this month from a submerged vehicle in the Intracoastal Waterway, along with her red car, personal items, and children's toys, suggest the remains are Combs'. Volunteer divers Ken Fleming and Vern Shurtz, both veterans, helped crack the case after connecting with a Flagler Cold Case Detective in 2024 and spending two years searching over 300 ponds and waterways.

Why it matters

This case highlights the dedication of volunteer divers and investigators in solving long-standing missing persons cases, providing closure for families after decades of uncertainty. It also underscores the challenges of recovering evidence from submerged vehicles and the importance of using advanced technology like side-scan sonar to aid in these efforts.

The details

In October 2025, the volunteer divers located a spring and a bumper consistent with Combs' 1996 Neon in the Intracoastal near the end of 18th Road. On February 3, 2026, National Missing Persons Day, the FBI's Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team and the Jacksonville Evidence Response Team joined Flagler deputies and the volunteer divers for a three-day recovery mission. Divers entered the upside-down, deteriorated car through a broken driver's side window and used dredging equipment to suction mud and debris. Within the first day, they located a pelvic bone inside the vehicle, as well as other evidence like a driver's license, a shoe, and children's toys.

  • On August 19, 2003, Mary Lou Combs was last seen leaving the home she shared periodically with her mother and children.
  • In 2024, volunteer divers Ken Fleming and Vern Shurtz connected with Flagler Cold Case Detective Sarah Scalia and began working the Combs case.
  • In October 2025, the divers located a spring and a bumper consistent with Combs' 1996 Neon in the Intracoastal near the end of 18th Road.
  • On February 3, 2026, National Missing Persons Day, the recovery operation took place over three days.

The players

Mary Lou Combs

A 41-year-old mother who vanished in 2003 and is believed to have been found deceased in her submerged vehicle.

Ken Fleming

A Marine Corps veteran and recovery diver with Recon Dive Recovery, who helped crack the Combs case.

Vern Shurtz

A veteran diver with Helo & Sub, who partnered with Ken Fleming to help solve the Combs case.

Sarah Scalia

A Flagler Cold Case Detective who connected with the volunteer divers in 2024 to work on the Combs case.

Rick Staly

The Flagler County Sheriff, who said the physical evidence strongly suggests the remains are Combs'.

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What they’re saying

“We were praying every day for one bone. When we located that first pelvic bone on February 3rd, that was it for us. That was the big relief.”

— Ken Fleming, Marine Corps veteran and recovery diver (firstcoastnews.com)

“Everybody was determined to do all that they could to bring the remains of Mary Lou Combs home.”

— Vern Shurtz, Veteran diver (firstcoastnews.com)

“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.”

— Natasha Harper, Daughter of Mary Lou Combs (firstcoastnews.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the dedication of volunteer divers and investigators in solving long-standing missing persons cases, providing closure for families after decades of uncertainty. It also underscores the challenges of recovering evidence from submerged vehicles and the importance of using advanced technology like side-scan sonar to aid in these efforts.