Police in Oklahoma are trying to get to the bottom of the death of a former Lawrence woman, whose body was found Tuesday in Eufaula, Okla.

McIntosh County sheriff’s deputies found the body of 79-year-old Erlene McCune wrapped in a sheet in the garage of her daughter’s home.

According to McIntosh County Sheriff’s Detective Jared West, the daughter, Shelly Maytubby, 52, removed McCune from a senior living facility in Lawrence operated by Legend Senior Living on Sept. 12.

Marla Lopeman, a spokeswoman for Legend Senior Living, confirmed that McCune lived at The Windsor, 3220 Peterson Road in Lawrence, but moved out in September.

Family members contacted the sheriff’s office when they were unable to reach McCune, who suffers from dementia.

When officers questioned Maytubby about McCune’s whereabouts, they were told an unusual and unlikely story, West said.

Maytubby told police that her mother had met a truck driver named “Santa Claus” in the parking lot of a Dollar General and had run off with the man.

“It wasn’t plausible at all,” West said.

The cause of death has not been determined, but Maytubby was arrested on charges of unlawfully disposing of human remains, obstructing an officer, disrupting an investigation and financial exploitation by a caregiver, West said. Police hope to know a cause of death by the end of the week.

When police found McCune’s body, they also found a large amount of cash.

“That raised our suspicions,” West said.

Officers continue to piece together where the money came from. Maytubby is expected to be formally charged Thursday in Oklahoma, West said.

McCune was in Lawrence because she had another daughter in the area.

Lopeman said McCune’s death has affected many of The Windsor residents, who were friends of McCune.

“We’re really saddened to hear the news,” Lopeman said. “It’s tragic.”