BILLINGS, Mont. — A Montana judge has sentenced a man to 85 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to the deliberate homicide of his girlfriend, in a case that has left the local community shaken by its horrific nature. Shane Levi Cole Roberts, 46, will likely spend the remainder of his life in prison following his sentencing for the murder of 52-year-old Genna Rae LaCombe in 2024.
The investigation into LaCombe’s death began when neighbors in a Billings apartment complex alerted authorities to an unsettling odor emanating from a nearby apartment. Police, upon their arrival, discovered her body, concealed with blankets, towels, and a shower curtain on the apartment’s porch.
Further search led authorities to find Roberts concealed in a closet inside the apartment, where he was hiding with a dog. He was arrested promptly. Near LaCombe’s remains, investigators found a grim collection of blood-stained weapons including knives, a hatchet, and a hammer.
An autopsy later confirmed LaCombe had sustained multiple stab wounds, one of which was so severe it almost decapitated her. Adding a chilling layer to the investigation, detectives uncovered photos on Roberts’ phone that showed LaCombe’s body in a bathtub, timestamped nine days prior to her body being found, suggesting the murder occurred significantly earlier than when the body was discovered.
During the trial, the prosecution played a recorded jailhouse conversation between Roberts and his mother where he confessed to the murder, citing that LaCombe had “pushed him too far.”
Though prosecutors and defense attorneys recommended a 70-year sentence, District Judge Colette Davies decided on a harsher punishment of 85 years, citing the exceptional cruelty displayed in LaCombe’s murder. This extended sentencing eliminates any possibility of parole for Roberts.
LaCombe was remembered in her obituary and by family members as a loving mother of two who had an artistic soul, skilled in painting and beading. She enjoyed cooking, often preparing dishes like chicken noodle soup and pork chop chili for her family, and her home was frequently filled with the sound of dance music and tunes from the 1980s.
The tragedy of LaCombe’s death resonates deeply within her community and among her loved ones, who struggle to come to terms with the senseless loss. Her artistic spirit and warmth in family gatherings are sorely missed, leaving a void that has deeply affected those who knew her personally.
This case underscores not only the personal tragedy for LaCombe’s family but also highlights the broader issues of domestic violence and the profound impact it has on communities. As the legal chapters close with Roberts’ sentencing, the emotional and social repercussions for the Billings community are likely to persist as they recover from this brutal crime.