Tulsa Family Hopes For Answers After Gruesome Discovery In Pond

Ashli Sims, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A gruesome discovery may finally give a Tulsa family some answers to a five-yea-old mystery.

Police found an SUV Friday with skeletal remains inside, in the same pond where a human foot was found earlier this week.

The faded red Ford Expedition that was submerged in the pond has already been hauled away. And a family is hoping it will unlock the secret of what happened to its owner.

Sheila Scott's cousins watched in shock as her Ford Expedition was dragged out of an east Tulsa retention pond and onto a tow truck. But police can't say for sure whether the skeletal remains found inside the car are Sheila Scott.

"Whether or not this is her is still in question. whether she's a victim of a homicide or a tragic accident is yet to be determined," said Jason Willingham, Tulsa Police.

Neither Scott nor the SUV has been seen since she disappeared on Valentine's Day of 2006. Back then, News On 6 talked to her 18-year-old daughter Tatiana.

"I feel she's alive, I'm hoping she's alive. Everyone says you get that feeling and I don't have it, so I'm hoping she's alive," Tatiana said in 2006.

Tatiana says her mom was going out that Valentine's night and said she would be back in a few minutes. The 47-year-old, who worked at Avis and was taking classes to become a paralegal, was never seen or heard from again.

It fell to Tatiana - who was a senior at Booker T at the time - to care for her two younger siblings.

"Just waiting and hoping and wishing. We want answers; there are lots of unanswered questions. It's hard not knowing what she's doing, if she can do anything. We need closure, it's been a long couple of months," she said in 2006

Months turned into years, and the mystery endured until a woman with her dog found a shoe with a human foot still inside.

TPD's dive team searched, the pond was drained and two cars surfaced. Police believe one was stolen and unrelated.

The other was the Expedition registered to Scott. Police say this is just the beginning of a long investigation, but they're determined to give this family some answers and as much closure as possible.

"This is an important part of her healing process to say we know this happened to her, we know she's deceased," said Jason Willingham, Tulsa Police.

Police are asking anyone that remembers anything about Sheila Scott who was also known as Sheila Sharp to call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.

10/28/2011: Remains Found In SUV In Tulsa Pond, Vehicle Traced To Missing Woman
10/26/2011: Tulsa Police Drain Retention Pond In Search For Body Parts
10/25/2011: Dive Team Scours Tulsa Pond After Human Foot Found
10/25/2011: Dog Finds Human Foot In East Tulsa Retention Pond