Paul Combs, witness in disappearance of millionaire Rex Judd, commits suicide

Rex Judd has been missing since

Gary Craig • Staff writer • June 8, 2010

A key witness in the case of the disappearance of a Wayne County (New York) millionaire fatally shot himself in the head in Florida on Saturday, authorities said today.

Paul Michael Combs, 49, committed suicide in Davie, Fla., where he lived, according to the Broward County, Fla., Medical Examiner’s Office.
Combs had maintained that he had information about the disappearance of Rex Judd, 51, of Ontario, Wayne County, who vanished in Thailand in September 2005. Combs and Judd were among a group of men who traveled regularly to Thailand to socialize.
The FBI has investigated whether another man in the group, Egor Chernov, was involved in Judd’s disappearance. An FBI affidavit in 2007 stated that an investigation was underway to determine whether Judd “was murdered at the direction of Chernov.” Combs had alleged that Chernov, a Russian citizen who lived in Utah, ordered Judd to be murdered.
Judd became a millionaire peddling get-rich-quick schemes. At the time he disappeared, Judd was expected to meet Chernov in Thailand, where Chernov had a villa, to discuss a possible business deal.
Chernov, the brother of a Russian federal judge, is now in federal prison after admitting to providing false Russian passports to individuals. He is scheduled to be released next year.
Combs also served a federal prison stint after pleading guilty in federal court in Utah to extortion and a conspiracy to traffic in fake passports. He was released on parole in January.
Authorities in Utah sealed much of Combs’ criminal file. Available records show that at one point he was cooperating with authorities.
Authorities say Combs tried to extort millions from Chernov after alleging he’d lost $675,000 to Chernov in a business deal. Authorities allege that Combs even traveled from Florida to Utah and spray-painted on Chernov’s home, “Egor Chernov murdered Rex Judd! Russian maggot!”
Combs’ attorney told the Democrat and Chronicle in March that Combs had no direct information about Judd’s disappearance and only heard secondhand claims.
Chernov’s attorneys have denied that he was involved in Judd’s disappearance.
Federal authorities have refused to comment on the case. Records show that the Department of Justice’s organized crime and racketeering section has headed the investigation.