Oklahoma mug shot of Shelly D. Maytubby.

An Oklahoma woman is being held on a $50,000 bond after being charged with desecration of a human corpse connected to the death of her mother, a 79-year-old former Lawrence woman.

Shelly D. Maytubby of Eufala, Okla., was arrested Tuesday after police found the body of Erlene McCune wrapped in a sheet in Maytubby’s garage.

According to Oklahoma authorities, Maytubby signed McCune — who suffered from dementia — out of The Windsor assisted living facility in Lawrence 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 also found $12,000 at Maytubby’s home, which raised suspicions that Maytubby may have been financially exploiting her mother.

Maytubby was originally 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 the one count of desecration of a human corpse in court Thursday.

The crime is a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison.

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