A homeless man charged with killing a man in Laclede County in July has now been charged in connection to a Texas murder.
Dustin Lee Combs, 28, was charged with murdering Mark Pitts in Laclede County on July 2. After further investigation, Combs is now charged with murdering Franklin Donald Cox in Angelina County, Texas, according to Laclede County Sheriff David Millsap.
“Information was developed by a Laclede County investigator regarding the Texas cold case, and that lead was given to Texas authorities,” the sheriff said in a press release.
Texas investigators interviewed Combs at the Laclede County Jail last week. During the interview, Combs allegedly admitted to murdering the Texas man, the sheriff reports.
Combs is also a suspect in the beating and stabbing of an Arkansas man that occurred just weeks prior to the killing of Mark Pitts, the sheriff added.
Combs is currently being held in the Laclede County Jail with bond denied. He has been charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and felony stealing. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the crimes, according to court records.
Pitts picked up Combs at a Lebanon business on July 2 and took him to his rural home in Laclede County. Combs allegedly shot and killed Pitts and took Pitts’ truck, according to court documents.
Combs was arrested on July 12 in Washington County. He was in Pitts’ truck and had a gun in his possession, the sheriff reported.
Combs is set to be in Laclede County Court on Sept. 16 for a pre-trial conference.
