5 key details about Shaynna Sims' crimes

On October 21, 2024, Investigation Discovery will premiere a new episode of Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?, about Shaynna Sims, titled The Halloween Bride. The episode features the crimes committed by Shaynna Lauren Sims. Viewers will get a close look at interviews with the victim’s family, reporters, and law enforcement officials who unveil the grim details of the case.

Shaynna Sims was found guilty of mutilating the corpse of Tabatha Lynch during a funeral in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in April 2015. In a disturbing breach of funeral decorum, Sims, posing as a makeup artist, accessed Lynch's body, committing acts of mutilation.

She severed Lynch’s breasts and a toe, and removed skin from her forehead, under the guise of preparing the body for viewing. As per the court documents, the act was driven by jealousy over a perceived relationship between her estranged husband and Lynch, though it was confirmed they were just friends.

Shaynna Sims' subsequent arrest and trials showed the depths of her crimes that resulted in a complicated legal battle involving jurisdictional issues due to the victim’s Native American heritage.

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5 of the most harrowing details about Shaynna Sims' crimes

Shaynna Sims pretended to be a professional makeup artist to gain access to Lynch's casket. (Representative image via Unsplash)

1) The disturbing disguise and entry

Shaynna Sims devised a plan to enter the funeral home where Tabatha Lynch’s body was laid. She claimed to be a professional makeup artist tasked with preparing the body for the funeral service. Her ruse worked, giving her unrestricted access to Lynch’s casket without raising suspicions among the funeral home staff or the grieving family.

The strategic lie facilitated the events that followed because she was able to approach and tamper with the body undetected.

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2) Mutilation of the corpse

Once at the casket, Sims' actions turned macabre. With a sharp knife, she mutilated Tabatha Lynch’s body, cutting off her breasts and a toe, actions driven reportedly by deep-seated jealousy.

Additionally, Sims smeared Lynch’s makeup, sliced skin from her forehead, and pulled out strands of her hair. The brutality of the mutilation desecrated Lynch’s body and left her family in profound shock and distress when they discovered the condition of their loved one.

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3) Theft of personal items

Shaynna Sims stole shoes right off the deceased’s feet. The motivation behind the theft is unclear as it has not been disclosed by her. The focus of the police investigation and subsequent reports primarily centered on the mutilation of the corpse and the breach of peace at the funeral.

The police reportedly found possession of incriminating items like a folding knife that had Lynch's hair, scissors, makeup tools, and the stolen pair of shoes in her apartment.

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4) Discovery and immediate aftermath

Lynch's family discovered the mutilations Sims made on Lynch's body just before the funeral began. (Representative image via Unsplash)

The gruesome alterations made to Tabatha Lynch’s body were discovered moments before the funeral service was to commence. The discovery was made by family members who arrived early to pay their respects, only to find Lynch’s body horrifically altered.

The immediate impact was profound, with the family and funeral staff calling 911, leading to a rapid police response. The scene described by first responders and funeral staff was one of shock and dismay.

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5) Legal repercussions and complicated jurisdictional issues

Shaynna Sims’ arrest and subsequent trial brought her heinous acts into the legal arena, where she was initially convicted and sentenced to serve 16 years in prison. But the legal proceedings took a complex turn when the conviction was overturned in 2021 due to jurisdictional issues related to the victim's Native American heritage and the location of the crime within the Creek Nation.

The eventual re-arrest of Shaynna Sims happened in 2023 after new rulings affirmed the state's jurisdiction.

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The Halloween Bride special airs at 9.00 PM EST, on October 21, 2024 on Investigation Discovery.