In the quiet confines of a Tulsa funeral home, where families gather to mourn and say their final goodbyes, an act of unimaginable vengeance unfolded in 2015. What began as a routine viewing turned into a nightmare of horror, betrayal, and legal drama that spanned years, involving Supreme Court rulings and questions about jurisdiction, mental health, and justice. At the center of it all was Shaynna Lauren Sims, a woman whose jealousy allegedly drove her to desecrate the body of her romantic rival, Tabatha Lynch. This article explores the full story, drawing from court records, news reports, and legal analyses to paint a comprehensive picture of one of Oklahoma’s most disturbing criminal cases.
A Tragic Loss and an Unexpected Intrusion
Tabatha Lynch was just 38 years old when she passed away from natural causes on April 30, 2015, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Described by friends and family as a vibrant woman, Lynch’s death came as a shock, but her loved ones sought solace in the rituals of farewell. Her body was prepared for viewing at Moore’s Eastlawn Chapel, a respected funeral home in the city, where an open-casket service allowed mourners to pay their respects.
On the day of the viewing—coincidentally the same date as her death, though preparations moved swiftly—26-year-old Shaynna Lauren Sims arrived at the funeral home uninvited. Posing as a professional makeup artist, Sims convinced staff and family members that she was there to assist with final touches on Lynch’s appearance. “She assured them she wanted to help prepare the body,” witnesses later testified. Trusting her intentions, the funeral home granted her access to the private viewing room.
Once alone with the casket, Sims’ true motives emerged. Driven by what prosecutors described as seething rage over an alleged affair between Lynch and her boyfriend, Monty Smith (whom some sources refer to as her estranged husband), Sims unleashed a gruesome assault on the defenseless corpse. She slashed Lynch’s face with a deep vertical cut from the hairline to the tip of the nose, severing both breasts and a toe. She also cut away locks of hair and even removed Lynch’s shoes, scattering evidence like strands of hair on the floor. The desecration was not discovered until later that day when funeral director Greg Lee and staff prepared the body for cremation. “In all these years I’ve worked in the funeral industry, I’ve never seen that happen,” Lee testified, his voice reflecting the shock that rippled through the community.
Family members had noticed something odd during the viewing—Sims lingering with her hands inside the casket—but the full extent of the horror only came to light hours later. The violation didn’t stop at the funeral home; Sims then went to Lynch’s apartment, again posing as a funeral home employee, to steal jewelry and other items, adding burglary to her list of offenses.
The Investigation: From Suspicion to Arrest
Tulsa police were called to the scene immediately after the discovery. Investigators quickly zeroed in on Sims, who had been identified by witnesses. A search of her person and belongings revealed damning evidence: a folding knife with traces of hair matching the strands found near the casket, along with scissors, a box cutter, and makeup items. Monty Smith, the man at the center of the alleged love triangle, denied any infidelity, telling authorities, “I didn’t even know she’d be capable of doing that.” Prosecutors painted Sims and Lynch as “frenemies,” suggesting a simmering rivalry fueled by jealousy.
Sims was arrested shortly after and charged with a slew of felonies: first-degree burglary, unlawfully removing a body part from a deceased person, unauthorized dissection, disrupting or interrupting a funeral, and knowingly concealing stolen property. Her bond was initially set but later revoked when she violated conditions by appearing at Lynch’s apartment complex, where the victim’s children lived.
Early in the proceedings, Sims’ defense team raised concerns about her mental competency. Citing a history of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, her attorney argued that delusions and irrational behavior made it impossible to prepare a defense. A judge ordered a forensic psychological evaluation, and on July 8, 2015, Sims was declared competent to stand trial. This cleared the way for what would become a highly publicized courtroom battle.
The Trial: Graphic Evidence and Emotional Testimonies
The trial began in April 2017, nearly two years after the crime. Prosecutors presented graphic photographs of the mutilated body, which jurors reviewed in detail. Witnesses recounted Sims’ deceptive entry into the funeral home and the subsequent discovery of the desecration. The prosecution emphasized the profound violation—not just to Lynch’s remains, but to the sanctity of grief for her family. “This was an angry woman upset by the cheating,” one prosecutor argued in closing statements.
The defense countered that Sims was “not in the right state of mind,” humiliated by her partner’s alleged affair and acting out of emotional distress. They highlighted her mental health history, but the jury wasn’t swayed. After deliberating for about four hours, they found Sims guilty on all five counts.
Sentencing followed in June 2017. Judge Kelly Greenough imposed a total of 16 years, to be served consecutively: seven years for burglary (with an 85% minimum before parole), five for removing a body part, two for concealing stolen property, and one each for dissection and disrupting the funeral. Fines totaled $6,500, with credit for time served. The judge’s ruling underscored the severity of the act, which robbed Lynch’s family of a peaceful farewell.
Legal Twists: From Release to Reincarceration
Sims’ story didn’t end with the gavel. In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma reshaped criminal jurisdiction in the state. The decision held that much of eastern Oklahoma, including Tulsa, remained Native American reservation land, meaning crimes involving Native Americans on those lands fell under federal or tribal authority, not state courts.
In Sims’ case, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (OCCA) applied McGirt in late 2021, noting that Lynch was a member of a federally recognized tribe and the crime occurred within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation. The court vacated her conviction and ordered the case dismissed for lack of state jurisdiction. Sims was released after serving about four years.
But the pendulum swung back in 2022 with Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, where the Supreme Court clarified that states could prosecute non-Native defendants for crimes against Native victims on reservation land. Applying this, the OCCA reinstated Sims’ conviction and sentence in September 2023. Sims appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but in October 2022, her petition was denied in a brief three-sentence order, remanding the case back to the OCCA for final consideration. She was re-arrested in February 2023 and returned to prison.
As of late 2024, Shaynna Lauren Sims, now in her mid-30s, remains incarcerated in an Oklahoma Department of Corrections facility, serving out her original 16-year sentence.
Broader Implications: Mental Health, Jurisdiction, and the Sanctity of Death
This case highlights several critical issues. First, the role of mental health in criminal acts: Sims’ defense repeatedly pointed to her diagnoses, yet she was deemed competent, raising questions about how the justice system handles psychological factors. Second, the McGirt and Castro-Huerta rulings have upended thousands of cases in Oklahoma, exposing tensions between state, federal, and tribal sovereignty.
Most profoundly, it underscores the vulnerability of the deceased and the trauma inflicted on survivors. Lynch’s family endured not just loss, but a violation that tainted their memories forever. As one prosecutor noted, this was more than a crime—it was an assault on human dignity.
In a world where jealousy can fester into monstrosity, the Shaynna Sims case serves as a somber reminder: Even in death, peace should be inviolable. For Tabatha Lynch, that peace was stolen, but her story endures as a call for compassion, vigilance, and reform.