A Montana man has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal killing of his girlfriend—a crime that left the community in shock. Shane Levi Cole Roberts, aged 46, received an 85-year prison sentence on Friday for the murder of 52-year-old Genna Rae LaCombe in Billings. Roberts had previously entered a guilty plea to charges of deliberate homicide.

The sentencing hearing, which lasted four hours, revealed disturbing details of the case, according to a courtroom report from local CBS affiliate KTVQ. Prosecutors recounted how Roberts nearly decapitated LaCombe in a violent rage after claiming she had “pushed him too far.” He then wrapped her body in blankets and left it to decompose on a porch.

Authorities were alerted to the crime on August 24, 2024, when neighbors reported a foul odor emanating from a nearby apartment. Upon arrival, officers discovered LaCombe’s body wrapped in blankets, towels, and a shower curtain on the porch. Inside the residence, they found Roberts hiding in a closet with a dog. He was immediately arrested.

A coroner’s examination revealed that LaCombe had suffered multiple stab wounds, with one wound nearly resulting in decapitation, as reported by KTVQ. The gruesome nature of the crime has left a lasting impact on the Billings community.

A coroner reportedly determined LaCombe suffered numerous stab wounds including one that nearly caused decapitation, KTVQ reported.

The evidence Roberts left behind was plentiful — namely photos on his phone showing his girlfriend’s bloodied body in a bathtub, dated about nine days before her remains were discovered. Cops also recovered two bloodied knives, a hatchet and hammer.

Then, there was the phone call he made to his mother after he was placed inside the Yellowstone County Jail where he reportedly admitted to killing LaCombe, saying she “pushed him too far.”

Prosecutors and Roberts’ defense attorney agreed to a 70-year prison term. But Judge Colette Davies tacked on 15 years to the sentence.

“I’m told that you loved this woman,” Davies told Roberts, according to KTVQ. “But this is not love. This is abomination.”

LaCombe was a mother of two, her obituary said.

“In addition to her role as a devoted mother, Genna cherished her hobbies,” the obituary said. “She was talented in arts and crafts, particularly painting and beading. She also had a passion for cooking, with her chicken noodle soup and pork chop chili being family favorites. Genna’s love for 80s music filled her home with dancing — even if her sons did so begrudgingly.”