Shanta Pearson pleads not guilty to charges in death of West Allis woman

MILWAUKEE -- Shanta Pearson pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, July 26th to multiple charges in connection with the death of Tess White of West Allis.

Shanta Pearson



White’s body was found on May 17th in South Dakota after she was reported missing by family on May 14th. Farmers found White’s body in a field in Grant County. It had been burned. An autopsy revealed the White was ten weeks pregnant.

Pearson is charged with the following criminal counts:


    Pearson is due back in court on Wednesday, August 17th.



     

    Tiffany Lynn Simmons



    Last week, a second suspect accused in this case, 35-year-old Tiffany Lynn Simmons, also entered not guilty pleas to charges against her. Court records show Simmons, White’s friend, confessed to torturing and killing White in a parking lot in West Allis in May.

    Surveillance video from a bank robbery helped lead police to their suspects in this case.

    Tipsters told police that 44-year-old Shanta Pearson can be seen in that video — robbing a Milwaukee bank on May 6th. Five days later, on May 11th, Pearson was arrested in Colorado following a traffic stop. The driver, 35-year-old Tiffany Lynn Simmons was also arrested.

    Tess White