Mo. Stepfather Charged in Drowning of Boy
Sept. 26--CLAYTON -- The stepfather of a 12-year-old boy who drowned in the Meramec River Aug. 5 has been charged with seven counts of endangering the welfare of a child after St. Louis County police say he supplied alcohol to seven minors.
Christopher Marks, the boy who drowned, was among children who drank alcohol provided by Todd Combs at a family gathering at the river, authorities say.
County police investigators pieced together evidence from witnesses and surveillance videos inside stores where they say Combs purchased the alcohol, said St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch.
The charges involve seven separate victims, who were attending the family picnic on Aug. 5 at 18800 Franklin Road.
Christopher was last seen about 7:30 p.m. in the Palisades area of Pacific swinging on a rope near the Meramec river.
A massive search including dive teams ensued, and Combs found Christopher's body a three days later and a few miles away from there near Allenton access point. Combs and one of his friends had been searching for the boy on a jet ski.
The charges against Combs are misdemeanors.
Christopher's mother, Beth Marks said today she didn't know the charges had been filed and that she and Combs have separated since her son's death. She said she expected charges would come but wasn't sure how to feel about them.
"That's something he has to deal with," she said.
She said she is still grieving Christopher's death.
"My life's forever changed," she said. "I will never be who I was. I will never have normalcy in my life."
Joel Currier of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
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