What happened to Terrell Sims? Details explored ahead of Snapped on Oxygen

The murder of Terrell Sims by his girlfriend, Taylor Wardlaw, garnered significant public attention due to the shocking nature of the crime. Terrell Sims, a 26-year-old male from Columbia, South Carolina, had been reported missing by Wardlaw on December 22, 2021, which led to the investigation of his whereabouts.

As the investigation progressed, it became clear that the circumstances of his disappearance were much more heinous. More than a week after his missing, police found Sims's body near a creek off Monticello Road on January 3, 2022. Days later, Wardlaw was arrested by the police in connection to the murder.

Snapped season 35 episode 2, titled A Father of Four Vanishes, explores the case of Sims' death. The synopsis of the episode reads:

The episode takes a shocking turn as a father of four disappears just days before Christmas, leaving his family in turmoil. What initially appears to be a simple bond violation quickly unravels into something far more sinister and disturbing.

The episode is set to premiere on January 12, 2025, and will feature interviews with his sister.

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Investigation and the discovery of Terrell Sims' body

According to a press release by the City of Columbia Police Department, several law enforcement agencies, including SLED and the Richland County Sheriff's Department, were part of the search for Terrell Sims' after Taylor Wardlaw reported the missing on December 22, 2021.

On January 3, 2022, authorities discovered Sims's body in a bag near a creek off Monticello Road in Richland County, according to ABC Columbia. An autopsy later confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds.

As per a report by WACH FOX 57, the victim's twin sister, Marcella Sims-Jacobs, said at the time that Wardlaw was distraught by the disappearance of Sims and went as far as organizing search operations with her family.

“I started to put together... After I got the story... I put it together and I was like yeah, she’s not telling me something,” she said.

Wardlaw's actions raised suspicion in the investigators, who started piecing together evidence about a violent conflict between the two before Sims was killed.

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Indictment against Taylor Wardlaw

On January 6, 2022, mere days after the body of Terrell Sims was found, Taylor Wardlaw was arrested, according to the City of Columbia Police Department. She was charged with murder and possession of a firearm in the commission or attempted commission of a violent crime. The latter charge suggested the shooting of multiple times by Taylor during an altercation.

As per the City of Columbia Police Department's press release, Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook stated:

"Wardlaw is accused of fatally shooting a male acquaintance multiple times”

It has been reported that before his death, Sims already revealed that he would end his relationship with her, as per a report by WLTX dated March 25, 2024.

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Trial and plea Bargain

According to Ground News, as the case advanced to trial, Taylor Wardlaw decided to plead guilty to avoid extensive litigation in court. On March 25, 2024, just before the trial was set to begin, she pleaded guilty to first-degree murder of Terrell Sims. She was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison.

However, many, including the victim's twin sister, showed their discontent about the length of the imprisonment. They say that it doesn't do justice to the situation at hand for having taken Terrell Sims away from his children and family so drastically.

According to the WACH FOX 57, Sims-Jacobs said:

“I just pray that she repents and gets the help she needs from God because for you to live like that and go two weeks knowing where he was the whole time... And crying... And you start posting on Facebook.”

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Watch Snapped on Oxygen on January 12, 2025.