Death of lineman who went missing after Helene restoration work ruled suicide

Editor’s note: The video above is from previous coverage of this story.

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) — The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences has ruled the death of Illinois lineman John Combs a suicide.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Family of lineman who died following Helene recovery efforts grasping for answers

Combs died on October 4, 2024 after being hit by a train in Montgomery, Alabama. In the days leading up to his death, Combs was working to restore power in the Savannah area.

Combs was among 20,000 linemen who came to Georgia after Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 27, 2024, knocking out power for 1.5 million people. His father, Chris Combs, said his son enjoyed the work because “when he flipped that switch on and all the power went on, knowing otherwise some of these people would be without power for quite a long time.”

Timeline of concerning events

On October 1, 2024, John Combs was working to restore power on Wilmington Island. The following day, he checked himself into Memorial Hospital in Savannah, complaining of “altered mental status.” Medical records provided to WTOC Investigates by Combs’ father show he had become “suddenly disoriented and confused” and felt “tingling of both arms and legs.”

Combs left the hospital in the middle of the night on October 3, saying he had to go to work. He then rented a car, drove to Atlanta and attempted to catch a Southwest flight back to Illinois. He was denied boarding due to erratic behavior during the boarding process.

The following day, he was found dead after being hit by a train in Montgomery, Alabama. His family still has no clear understanding of how or why he ended up there.

Family questions work site incident

Chris Combs told WTOC Investigates in January that his son had no prior history of mental health issues and believes something happened on the work site that altered his mental state, such as a possible electrocution or head injury.

During WTOC’s investigation, Wilmington Island resident Amber Powell came forward after seeing our Facebook post seeking information. Powell said she witnessed a concerning incident on October 1 near the golf course area where Combs was working.

“He was up in his bucket, he was working, there was no one down here,” Powell said, describing seeing a lone lineman. She then witnessed what she described as an explosion-like incident: “I don’t know if you’d call it an explosion, but it looked like a firework coming from the pole.”

Powell said sparks rained down on her car as a loud noise came from the power line, and she immediately looked back to check on the lineman’s safety.

Company denies safety violations

Combs’ employer, Red Rover Electric, denied that anything happened to him on the work site or that he was ever working alone. A foreman told WTOC Investigates that crews would not have been working alone.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration told WTOC Investigates they had looked into the case after receiving an informal complaint and found “no information to suggest that the death was work-related, or that workers were exposed to hazardous working conditions.”

Chris Combs expressed frustration with the lack of answers and support, telling WTOC Investigates: “You guys were so grateful to the lineman that came down to restore power in the Savannah area. Do you know about the one that didn’t make it home?”

The Montgomery Police Department had previously declined to comment on the case, citing an ongoing investigation. We reached out to them again after obtaining Combs’ autopsy report. A spokesperson for the department declined to provide any information about the investigation, including whether it is still active and ongoing.

Warning Signs of Suicide

• Talking about wanting to die
• Looking for a way to kill oneself
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
• Acting anxious, agitated, or recklessly
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
• Displaying extreme mood swings

What to Do

• Do not leave the person alone
• Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs, or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt
• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Take the person to an emergency room, or seek help from a medical or mental health professional

Who Can Help

• 988 – The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• • Using 988 is free and confidential. The Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988. You can call or text 988 or visit www.988lifeline.org to chat with a counselor.
• The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, Press 1
• • The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line connect veterans and service members in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text.
• Crisis Text Line: 741-741
• • This free text-message service provides 24/7 support to those in crisis. Text 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor right away.