Executive Summary
- Shane Levi Cole Roberts was sentenced to 85 years in prison with no time suspended for the murder of Genna Rae Moncada-LaCombe.
- Judge Colette Davies exceeded the 70-year sentence recommended by both the defense and prosecution.
- Forensic evidence presented in court included multiple weapons and photos of the victim found on the defendant’s phone.
- Roberts pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide regarding the August 2024 death.
A Yellowstone County District Court judge sentenced a Billings man to 85 years in prison on Friday for the 2024 murder of his girlfriend, citing the extreme violence of the crime in her ruling. Judge Colette Davies handed down the sentence to Shane Levi Cole Roberts, 46, for the deliberate homicide of Genna Rae Moncada-LaCombe, ordering that none of the prison time be suspended.
The 85-year term imposed by Judge Davies exceeded the 70-year sentence recommended by both the prosecution and the defense. During the hearing, Davies addressed the defendant directly, rejecting the notion that the crime was a crime of passion. “I’m told that you loved this woman,” Davies stated in court records. “But this is not love. This is abomination.” Roberts had previously pleaded guilty to the charge connected to the August 2024 death of the 52-year-old victim.
According to police reports, authorities discovered Moncada-LaCombe’s decomposing body wrapped in blankets on the front porch of a Heights apartment on August 24, 2024. Neighbors had contacted law enforcement to report a foul odor and expressed concern after not seeing the woman for several days. Billings Police officers arrested Roberts at the scene, where he was found hiding in a closet.
During the four-hour sentencing hearing, Billings Police Detective Hunter Cook testified regarding the forensic evidence collected at the scene. Cook stated that investigators found four bloodied weapons inside the apartment, including two knives, a hammer, and a hatchet. Autopsy results presented by Cook indicated that Moncada-LaCombe suffered numerous blunt force injuries and stab wounds, including a severe neck laceration that resulted in near-decapitation.
Prosecutors presented a recorded jailhouse phone call in which Roberts admitted to the killing, claiming the victim “pushed him too far.” Additionally, Detective Cook testified that photos found on Roberts’ phone showed the victim’s body in a bathtub on August 15, nine days before police were summoned. A forensic psychologist testified that while Roberts was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and substance abuse, he was competent to understand the nature of his actions at the time of the offense.
Judicial Sentencing Analysis
The imposition of a sentence exceeding the joint recommendation of the prosecution and defense highlights the substantial discretion judges retain in Montana district courts, particularly in cases involving exceptional brutality. By denying any suspended time, the court has ensured the defendant will serve the full duration of the custodial sentence within the state prison system, barring parole board interventions. This ruling effectively closes the adjudication phase of the homicide investigation, reflecting a judicial intent to maximize public safety and punitive measures for crimes involving high levels of violence.
