11/20/11

Defendant describes mercy kill | LoudounTimes.com

BREAKING NEWS: Combs-LaFleur convicted of first-degree murder

Mobile Website | Login | Register Staff Directory | Advertise | Subscribe | About Us Advanced Search

S E A R CH

News

Opinions

Sports

Entertainment

Blogs

Video

Classifieds

Advertise

Defendant describes mercy kill

Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011 by Laura Peters | 4 comments | Email this story

4
It took less than a minute for Catherine Cacey Combs-LaFleur to die on the night of Sept. 18, 2010, according to her husband, Steven Combs-LaFleur, who took the stand in his own defense Nov. 17 during day four of his murder trial. The 61-year-old husband is accused of hitting his wife seven times with a sledgehammer. His defense attorney, Matt Snow, says her death was a mercy kill. If a Loudoun County jury convicts him of first-degree murder Steven Combs-LaFleur faces life in prison. I had to stop her agony, I felt I just had to, the defendant said on the stand. She was in total pain. Agony is the only word for it. I couldnt stand it for her. I couldnt stand it for me. It was horrible. Steven Combs-LaFleur said he was doing repairs on his home in Leesburg on the night of his wifes death when something knocked the ladder over he was standing on. When he became conscious, he saw his wife laying in the fetal position on the deck and stairs.
Steven Combs-Lafleur

Most Popular in News

Tuesday, Nov. 15 | 10422 views

All of the sudden the bottom of the ladder knocked out. I looked down and saw Cacey below me with her hands above her head, the defendant said. I dont remember falling. Throughout Steven Combs-LaFleurs testimony on Nov. 17, there were many inconsistencies. Assistant Commonwealth Attorneys Russet Perry and Nicole Whitman presented to the jury the 911 call Steven Combs-LaFleur made the night he killed his wife. In the call, the defendant said he had been performing CPR on his wife for more than 30 minutes. But in his testimony on Nov. 17 he said he did not. The defendant said he had moved his wife to lay her on her back on the deck. He said he didnt notice any wounds on her head until he attempted to do CPR. I sat back and said, oh my god, shes dead. I felt horrible, Steven Combs-LaFleur said. At the time I thought the ladder hit her head. I felt horrible, heres Cacey, shes dead. I was crying. There was no response from her all this time. Her head was bashed in crushed. The defendant said he had straddled over his wife to attempt CPR, then, after being pressed by his attorney, changed his story, saying he instead crouched next to her. Then he heard her gasp. I still think she came back to life. She was not moving, her eyes were not opening, he said. She was making a very loud sound. It was the sound of pure pain. I knew she was in absolute pain and I couldnt stand it. I had to stop it. There was a hammer at my fingertips. I picked it up and hit her with it. I did it because I loved her. It was mercy, he continued. This was Cacey, in horrible pain and I had to do something and that was my reaction. I was not thinking clearly. When questioned by Loudoun County Sheriffs Office Lead Investigator Kelly Poland Steven Combs-LeFleur said he didnt tell her the entire story. He said he told the story up until the point

Leesburg teen charged with DUI after two-vehicle crash

Tuesday, Nov. 15 | 9531 views

UPDATE: Middle School teacher resigns after drunk in public charge

Wednesday, Nov. 16 | 7792 views

UPDATE: Medical examiner says victim was still alive during attack
Tuesday, Nov. 15 | 7067 views

UPDATE: Combs-Lafleur to take stand later this week

Monday, Nov. 14 | 5936 views

Assault charges against football coach dismissed

Stay Connected

Follow Us on Twitter News | Sports

www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/defendant_describes_mercy_kill123/

1/3

3 mmt. 2 3nfteil / 2ld/lic 1nrw _wu kexi ee/d yeo crtp/ _as eieo bsn /_ho scw epu de. cn sm rd ld/w an i.

mke1 meitf 1 oe 0 Ts 2 eib 1 cyr 1 se / m / nD ud o|le dc us or La .c n n l d i

Combs-LeFleur said he didnt tell her the entire story. He said he told the story up until the point when his wife started to make a horrible sound and then he struck her. I started to feel pretty stupid on how to respond, Steven Combs-LaFleur said. I had to say something. As the night went on I got more and more scared about what really happened.
Like Us on Facebook News & Sports

When on the stand, the defendant said his wifes hand was in her hair when he repositioned her. He then moved her hands to her sides. Whitman pointed out that this was new information that wasnt presented to investigators and that it was said after the blood spatter analyst had said there was blood on the palms on her hands that came from her head wounds. Perry presented the court recorded conversations the defendant had with his mistress, Devi OConnell, while at the Loudoun County Detention Center. Steven Combs-LaFleur told OConnell Snow had come to see him and they went over the case.

Subscribe via RSS News | Sports

He questioned me like we were in court and he said that I did a good job. He said I looked real sincere, the defendant said to OConnell. He said were going to be good. During another visit at the detention center the defendant discussed another conversation he had with Snow with OConnell. I didnt cry when I told the story. He said Ill probably be more emotional in court, the defendant told OConnell. He said that when I tell the jury that I should try to cry. Ive never tried to make myself cry so maybe I should practice that. Money troubles On Nov. 16, prosecutors presented the jury with a taped conversation between Steven CombsLeFleur and his insurance company. During the conversation, the defendant kept asking what the couples policy was on accidental death. According to prosecutors, he kept pushing the insurance company on how much money he would receive if his wife would accidentally die. The defendant worked on and off as a handy man and for the U.S. Census Bureau, but his wife had a steady job. Still, money was tight for their family and they had dipped into their life savings and his wifes 401k. We were looking at things getting better real soon, the defendant said. [Cacey] was more upset about our financial status. She was more concerned than I was. I thought things would turn around and get better.

Join Our Email List Sign up for weekly updates

The Loudoun Times-Mirror

is an interactive, digital replica of the printed newspaper. Open the e-edition now.

View our other print publications available online.

4
Weekly Homes Guide 2011 Guide to Loudoun Senior Lifestyles

Comments
Fri, Nov 18 at 09:57 AM by Suzanne Cottone | Report this comment Health and Wellness Bridal Guide Historic Frederick Maryland

No one could possibly believe the story he is telling! He is SUCH a scumbag, and deservs to rot in prison for the rest of his life.
Fri, Nov 18 at 08:18 AM by FeedUpDude | Report this comment Taste of Loudoun Home and Garden Historic Downtown Leesburg

Sicko, I hope he rots.

Fri, Nov 18 at 01:48 AM by Andrew Jackson | Report this comment Health Resolutions Future Leaders Coming Soon

Hang Him from the County Courthouse

Fri, Nov 18 at 01:42 AM by Loudoun Citizen | Report this comment

Jury, please dont let us down on this one! Sooooo much BS - first degree, please.