Man accused of setting fire to his Eureka home found dead

FENTON, Missouri — The body of a man accused of setting fire to a home in the city of Eureka and suspected of blowing up another home in the Jefferson County section of Eureka was recovered from the Meramec River earlier this week, Eureka police reported.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol recovered the body of 39-year-old Nicholas Combs of Eureka from the river near George Winter Park, 401 Allen Road, in the Fenton area on Tuesday. The St. Louis County Coroner’s Office identified the body today, July 11, according to Eureka police.

Captain Michael Werges said on Thursday that the cause of death was unknown.

Eureka police and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office had been searching for Combs since late June. On June 29, he allegedly attempted to set fire to a home on White Dove Court in the city of Eureka. He was also suspected of blowing up a home on River Ends Drive in the Jefferson County portion of Eureka on June 28.

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