BILLINGS, MT – A Montana man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after admitting to the brutal killing of his girlfriend, leaving a community shocked by the violent details revealed in court.

Shane Levi Cole Roberts, 46, was sentenced on Friday to 85 years in state prison for the 2024 homicide of Genna Rae LaCombe, 52. Roberts had pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide in connection with LaCombe’s death in late August, a crime described by authorities as particularly gruesome.

The investigation into LaCombe’s killing began on August 24, when neighbors in a Billings apartment complex reported a persistent and foul odor coming from a nearby unit. Responding officers discovered LaCombe’s body, wrapped in blankets, towels, and a shower curtain, left on the apartment’s porch.

Upon entering the residence, officers found Roberts hiding in a closet alongside a dog. He was taken into custody without further incident. Evidence collected at the scene included two bloodied knives, a hatchet, and a hammer, all found near the victim’s remains.

A subsequent autopsy revealed that LaCombe suffered multiple stab wounds, with one injury nearly severing her head, according to court testimony. Investigators also recovered disturbing photos from Roberts’ phone, depicting LaCombe’s body in a bathtub, dated nine days before the body was found. Authorities believe the photos indicate the attack took place up to a week and a half prior to the body’s discovery.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors described how Roberts later confessed to his mother during a recorded jail phone call, admitting to the killing and claiming that LaCombe had “pushed him too far.”

The court heard that prosecutors and the defense had worked out a 70-year sentencing recommendation, but District Judge Colette Davies increased the penalty, citing the especially cruel nature of the crime. With the additional 15 years imposed by Judge Davies, Roberts is not expected to ever be eligible for release.

LaCombe, remembered as a creative and devoted mother of two, was honored by her family for her talents and warmth. An obituary described her as a skilled artist who loved painting, beading, and cooking favorite dishes like chicken noodle soup and pork chop chili, while also filling her home with dance and 1980s music.

The case leaves LaCombe’s children and community grappling with the devastating loss. Family and friends continue to mourn, remembering the impact she had on those around her.