On September 26, 2018, Donnie Combs, age 46, and his girlfriend, Cynthia Arnold, vanished from Cass County, Texas, sparking a grim investigation that would eventually uncover a double murder. Combs had called Arnold to pick him up, and she left her home to meet him. Later, Arnold contacted her mother, stating that Combs had not yet arrived at their meeting spot. This was the last time either of them was heard from.
A few days later, Arnold's truck was discovered abandoned and burned on a county road in the neighboring Marion County, escalating concerns for their safety.
The case remained cold until July 2019, when an eyewitness came forward with a horrifying account of the couple's final moments. The witness testified at the 2022 trial of Kevin Dewayne Shepard Jr. that she had been staying with him in a trailer in a rural area of Cass County. She recounted meeting Combs and Arnold on two occasions at the property. During the second visit, while Combs and Shepard Jr. were outside shooting guns near a large trash fire, Arnold went to lie down in her truck. The witness stated that Shepard Jr. then said, "watch this," and shot Arnold in the head. He then turned his attention to Combs, saying, "I got something for you too," and shot him.
According to the witness's testimony, Combs attempted to flee after being shot, but Shepard Jr. pursued him. More gunshots and sounds consistent with a pistol-whipping were heard. Shepard Jr. later returned alone, remarking that Combs "wouldn't go down." He then brought a rolled-up carpet, from which a pair of boots were visible, and threw it into the fire pit. Subsequently, he moved Arnold's body from her truck to the fire pit as well and burned both bodies using tires and trash. The witness was then forced to follow Shepard Jr. as he drove Arnold's truck to a county road and set it on fire.
In October 2020, Kevin Dewayne Shepard Jr. and his uncle, Gary Edward Shepard, were indicted for capital murder in connection with the disappearances. Authorities alleged that Gary Shepard had solicited or directed the murder of Donnie Combs because he was a potential witness in a felony theft case. In June 2022, Kevin Dewayne Shepard Jr. was convicted of capital murder for the deaths of both Combs and Arnold. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. When authorities searched the fire pit indicated by the witness, they discovered several bones. While some were confirmed to be human, significant thermal damage prevented the extraction of usable DNA. Gary Shepard is still awaiting trial.Last Seen: Sep 26, 2018
