Woman Accused Of Cutting Body At Tulsa Funeral To Stand Trial

A woman who is charged with cutting a body at a funeral has been bound over for trial.

A Tulsa County judge ruled Friday enough evidence exists for Shaynna Sims to stand trial.

The Tulsa County district attorney initially charged Sims (aka Shaynna Smith) with five felonies, including first-degree burglary, illegal dissection of a human body and disturbing the funeral of her husband's lifelong female friend in May.

A sixth felony charge was added when, upon cremation, it was discovered that the woman's body was further mutilated and her breasts and a toe were missing, documents say.

5/14/2015: Related Story: DA: Breasts, Toe Found Missing From Body; Another Charge Added For Tulsa Suspect

The woman, according to her family, died of natural causes stemming from a long illness.

Police said they found hair on the floor near the casket and smeared makeup on the face of the deceased. There was also "a large vertical cut starting from the hairline stretching to the tip of the nose," an arrest report says.

Witnesses said they saw Sims’ hands inside the casket. Police say they found a folding knife with hair, that matched the hair on the floor, on Sims' person during a pat down. They also found scissors, a box cutter knife and "various pieces of makeup" on Sims', according to the report. A family member said Sims also had stolen the deceased woman's shoes.

According to the family, Sims then went to the deceased woman's apartment and told her children she needed pictures of their mother and some of her jewelry. The woman's children called police who arrested Sims.

5/13/2015: Related Story: Family Of Tulsa Woman Attacked In Casket Afraid For Children's Safety

This summer, Sims showed up for a court hearing in a big brown wig and sunglasses. A deputy told Sims to remove her glasses and her wig, but she said the wig was attached.

Sims’ $10,000 bond was revoked after her mother admitted they left Muskogee County in June, which went against bond conditions. She testified she and Sims went to a Tulsa dentist, a restaurant, a beauty supply store, and then to a cell phone kiosk in the same apartment complex where the dead woman lived.

Sims remains jailed in Tulsa without bond.

5/18/2015 Related Story: Tulsa Woman Accused Of Attacking Body Wears Disguise To Court


5/7/2015 Related Story: Tulsan Charged With Cutting Corpse At Funeral Caught On Video Attacking Another Woman