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Missing North Carolina Woman’s Ex-Boyfriend Had Been Previously Convicted of Murdering Ex-Girlfriend

Laporscha Chantal Baldwin of Gastonia, North Carolina, has been missing since Oct. 10, and her last known contact was her ex-boyfriend, Charles Combs.

Gastonia police said that Baldwin, 30, was last seen around 2 p.m. on Sunday by her family. Since that time, her car has been found abandoned on Highway I-85 in Charlotte, reported the City of Gastonia.

Since then, police announced that they suspect Baldwin’s last contact was with Combs, who lives in Charlotte.

However, efforts to locate or even speak with Combs have proven unfruitful at this point.

On Friday, new information was released to give more clues about what may have happened to the missing woman.

According to police, the tires on Baldwin’s car were slashed, and a substance that could be blood was found on the steering wheel, dashboard, and cup holder. Detectives also saw women’s clothing and duct tape inside as well, reported WCNC.

 

Combs, who had previously been convicted of second-degree murder of a previous girlfriend, and Baldwin were scheduled to meet before she went to work so that she could retrieve personal items from him. Baldwin broke up with Combs about three weeks ago, according to her family.

From there, she was going to her job at Amazon. The company said that she never showed up for her shift that day, and her car was found the next day.

The same day that Baldwin was supposed to work, her cellphone pinged off a tower near Combs’ apartment. However, in the two days after her disappearance, the phone pinged in South Carolina. Combs’ phone also pinged along I-85 in South Carolina around the same time.

A warrant was executed on Combs’ residence, but he was not there.

The police have not named Combs a suspect in the case. However, they do wish to speak with him. They encourage anyone who has information about his or Baldwin’s whereabouts to call the Gastonia offices or 911.

 

Kristen Muldrow

A native Dallasite who'll write anything if the price is right.