In a poignant breakthrough over two decades in the making, divers have uncovered human remains and a submerged vehicle linked to a Florida woman who disappeared without a trace.

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office revealed that divers recently retrieved sections of a red 1996 Plymouth Neon, along with clothing, children’s toys, a Florida driver’s license, and human remains believed to belong to Mary Lou Combs, a resident of Palm Coast.

Combs, last seen on August 19, 2003, had been living intermittently with her mother and three children. The 41-year-old left their home that day and never returned, sparking a long-lasting mystery.

Concern mounted when Combs failed to attend her daughter’s birthday party days later. Although her family mentioned prior instances of Combs disappearing, missing an important family event was out of character for her.

Adding to the mystery, Combs never collected her final paycheck from her job at a local Food Lion, further deepening the intrigue surrounding her sudden disappearance.

For years, investigators chased tips and searched multiple locations, but no evidence surfaced.

That changed in October 2025, when a voluntary dive team located what appeared to be a bumper matching Combs’ missing vehicle in the Intracoastal Waterway near Palm Coast.

The vehicle was later found upside down, buried in 14 to 17 feet of water and muck.

A multi-day recovery operation involving the FBI’s Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team and other agencies began Feb. 3.

Divers entered the submerged vehicle and used dredging equipment to recover its contents. Among the items pulled from the water were a steering wheel labeled “Neon,” a manual window crank, a floor mat, a size 7 shoe consistent with Combs’ size, and children’s items, including toys and a child seat.

Investigators also recovered a bone containing a metal plate believed to match an ankle reconstruction surgery Combs had undergone before she disappeared. Authorities are working to confirm whether the serial numbers match her medical records.

Sheriff Rick Staly said he hopes that the tireless work of detectives can give Combs’ family the answers they need so they can “finally lay their loved one to rest.”

“All the evidence gathered thus far suggests that the remains we have recovered are those of Mary Lou Combs,” Staly said. “While this is not the outcome anyone hoped for, we knew locating Mary alive was extremely unlikely given the length of time she had been missing.”

While rumors circulated for years that Combs may have died at a party and been disposed of, investigators say current evidence suggests she may have accidentally driven into the Intracoastal Waterway and drowned.

The remains are now with the medical examiner. DNA testing is underway to confirm identity and determine the cause of death.