Helen Denise Combass, a 59-year-old woman from Glen Saint Mary, Florida, tragically passed away on August 31, 2017. Her death was the result of a murder-suicide orchestrated by her husband, Robert Eugene Combass. On the night of the incident, Robert called 911 around 11:30 p.m., confessing that he had shot his wife in the head with a .380-caliber pistol. He also mentioned that he had killed their cat. While still on the phone with the dispatcher, Robert said "bye bye" before a gunshot was heard, indicating that he had taken his own life. When deputies arrived at their Bluff Creek Road home, they found Robert dead in the kitchen and Helen in their bedroom, having been shot while she was asleep.
The investigation by the Baker County Sheriff's Office revealed that Robert had recently developed medical issues, which family members believed might have contributed to his actions. The couple, who were days away from celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary, were described by their family as loving and without any known history of domestic abuse. The Sheriff's Office confirmed that there had been no prior domestic-related calls concerning the couple.
Helen Combass's death was a shocking and tragic event for the Glen Saint Mary community. The investigation concluded that there were no other suspects or arrests related to her death, as it was determined to be a murder-suicide. There were no ongoing litigations or law cases following the incident, as the primary perpetrator, Robert Combass, had also died at the scene.
