Woman accused of slashing boyfriend’s dead ex to stand trial

TULSA, Okla. — An Oklahoma woman charged with slashing the corpse of her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend during a funeral viewing has been ordered to stand trial.
Special Judge David C. Youll ruled after a preliminary hearing Friday that prosecutors introduced enough evidence against 27-year-old Shaynna Sims for her to be bound over. She’ll be arraigned Sept. 21.
Sims has pleaded not guilty to felony charges that include unauthorized removal of body parts from a body.
She was arrested at the dead woman’s apartment after attending the viewing April 30. Police say Sims was carrying a knife with the woman’s hair on it.
Witnesses told officers they saw Sims reach into the casket during the viewing, and court documents allege the dead woman’s face was discovered slashed, her makeup smeared and her hair on the floor.
Sims initially won the trust of those closest to the woman by assuring them she was a skilled makeup artist who wanted to help prepare the body for a funeral viewing, the victim’s family and friends testified Friday.
But instead of helping, the friends testified in district court, 27-year-old Shaynna Sims did otherwise, allegedly removing body parts from the victim, stealing her shoes and slashing the woman’s face.
“She had makeup and lipstick smeared all over her face; her hair was just all over the place,” the victim’s mother, Charlotte Wheeler, testified as she choked back tears.
Two employees at the funeral home described their grisly findings.
Funeral director Robert Gardner testified that two girls came into his office during the viewing claiming that someone “pulled a glob of hair” from the dead woman and left it on the floor. Lawrence Hutchings, a security and maintenance manager at the parlor, testified that the victim’s breasts and a toe had been removed. Hutchings told the court the body parts had yet to be found.
Sims was arrested at the dead woman’s apartment after attending the viewing April 30. Police say Sims stole the woman’s shoes and was carrying a knife with the woman’s hair on it. Witnesses told officers they saw Sims reach into the casket during the viewing, and court documents allege the dead woman’s face was discovered slashed.
Sims has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of unauthorized removal of body parts from a body, larceny, knowingly concealing or receiving stolen property and first-degree burglary.
Wearing an orange jail uniform and shackled at her wrists and ankles, Sims occasionally took notes on a legal pad during the testimony. Sims’ mother declined to comment on the case outside of court, but indicated she may do so when the preliminary hearing is finished, likely late Friday. Chad Greer, Sims’ defense attorney, also declined to comment until after the hearing.
Previously, Greer had said his client’s character has been “assassinated” in the media and in “the court of public opinion.”
“Inside that courthouse, she is innocent of each and every one of those … charges against her,” Greer said. “Until that time, she is protected by the Oklahoma Constitution and the U.S. Constitution, just like any other defendant.”
A district judge had ruled in July that Sims was competent to stand trial, meaning she’s able to understand the charges against her and is able to help defend herself.