No signs of trauma in death of former Lawrence woman found in Oklahoma garage

Oklahoma mug shot of Shelly D. Maytubby.

A medical examiner did not discover any signs of physical trauma to the body of a former Lawrence woman found dead last month in her daughter’s garage in Oklahoma, said McIntosh County Sheriff’s Detective Jared West.

However, authorities are awaiting further toxicology results for Erlene McCune, 79, whose body was discovered in Eufaula, Okla., two months after her daughter signed her out of The Windsor assisted living facility in Lawrence.

McCune’s daughter, Shelly D. Maytubby, has been charged with desecration of a human corpse after police found her mother’s body wrapped in a sheet in Maytubby’s garage. Maytubby is being held on a $50,000 bond.

According to Oklahoma authorities, Maytubby signed McCune — who suffered from dementia — out of The Windsor assisted living facility in Lawrence on Sept. 12. Several weeks ago, McCune’s family contacted Oklahoma police, concerned about the woman’s whereabouts.

Police questioned Maytubby, who told them her mother had run off with a truck driver named “Santa Claus.” Police continued to investigate, finding McCune’s body Tuesday. Police are waiting for the results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Police said they also found $12,000 at Maytubby’s home, which raised suspicions that Maytubby may have been financially exploiting her mother.

Maytubby was arrested on a charge of unlawfully disposing of human remains, obstructing an officer, disrupting an investigation and financial exploitation by a caregiver. However, she was only charged with desecration of a human corpse — punishable by up to seven years in prison.

West said police have also seized several of McCune’s bank accounts to help determine whether other financial crimes may have occurred.

Maytubby’s next court appearance is set for Jan. 23.