Texas 'God Grandma' arrested after Facebook post about brown water cites 'full faith' in God after DA drops case

A Texas woman arrested after sharing residents’ concerns about brown, sediment-filled tap water in her rural community says a grand jury has dismissed her case and is now suing the city. 

The case began in early April 2026 amid complaints from residents in the small East Texas community of Trinidad about discolored water flowing from faucets. Jennifer Combs, a mother and business owner who operates a community-focused Facebook page, encouraged residents to share photos, videos and reports of water quality issues.

While officials said the City of Trinidad issued a boil water notice as a precaution required by state regulations due to low chlorine residual levels, residents also reported health concerns related to the discolored water.

In a now-locked post, Combs referenced reports of hospitalizations linked to bacteria in the water. According to FOX 4, Combs cited “reports that some citizens have been hospitalized due to bacteria in the water” and called the threat a “serious public health concern that deserves immediate attention.”

“If your water looks discolored, contains sediment, has a strong odor, or you have experienced related health issues, please send us a message," she reportedly told residents. "We are gathering information and reporting findings to the state.”

In response, Trinidad police posted a public notice denying confirmed hospitalizations and attributing the discoloration to routine disturbances of sediment, rust or minerals in aging pipes during maintenance or flow changes.

The department’s April 6 post claimed city water officials had already addressed the “discoloration some residents may be seeing” and said it is “commonly caused by sediment, rust, or minerals being disturbed within older water lines, particularly during maintenance or changes in water flow. This process is part of ongoing efforts to improve the system.”

Police also warned residents against “knowingly” spreading information “that is false or baseless” and could “place the public in fear of imminent serious bodily injury.” The department added that anyone committing such an act could be charged with “a state jail felony” under the state penal code.

“We want to be clear: Public safety is our priority, but so is preventing unnecessary alarm within our community. Statements involving hospitalizations and public health emergencies must be based on verified, factual information from appropriate authorities.”

The department added in a follow-up comment that "this isn’t some hidden mystery."

"The discoloration has been explained multiple times in open council meetings and by the departments responsible," the comment read. "It’s typically caused by sediment and rust being stirred up in older pipes during maintenance and improvement efforts. That’s not 'amusing,' it’s basic infrastructure reality."

On May 8, Trinidad police arrested Combs on a charge of false alarm or report. Combs spent nearly a day in jail and later called it “extremely traumatic for me and my family.”

“I am a business owner, a community volunteer, a mother, and a ‘Honey’ and ‘God Grandma’ who had never even had a speeding ticket before this happened,” she wrote in a May 20 post.

On May 10, Trinidad Police Chief Charles Gregory defended the decision to arrest Combs, calling it “a very cut and dry case.”

“Some people believe I should stay quiet, but that’s not who I am. I did not take this position to be a ‘yes man.’ I took an oath to protect this city, to make it better, and that includes standing up for the truth when misinformation is being pushed,” he added.

On Wednesday, Combs shared a letter from Henderson County District Attorney Jenny Palmer announcing that a grand jury found insufficient evidence to charge her formally.

“I have full faith in my legal team … and in God that all of this will be handled quickly so we can all get back to the real issue at hand helping the citizens of Trinidad with their water infrastructure issues,” Combs wrote.

She later added, “After everything that has happened, I can finally say thank God for justice, truth, and competent District Attorneys who took the time to review the facts carefully.”

Combs told FOX 4 that she has filed a lawsuit against the city for what she considers political retaliation. 

"There’s people that are saying that their appliances are getting ruined, they can’t cook with the water, they can’t bathe with it, they can’t do laundry," she told the outlet, adding that multiple citizens wrote on the police department's Facebook page stating they were hospitalized or impacted because of the city's water situation. 

"A lot of them feel hushed, and like they don’t have a voice and no one listens to them and no one takes them seriously."

The Christian Post reached out to the City of Trinidad for comment on Friday but received only a response stating that the city’s offices were closed for the Memorial Day holiday. This story will be updated if a response is received.