The bodies of two Kansas women, Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, who disappeared in the Oklahoma Panhandle in March, were found in a chest freezer buried in a cow pasture. The remains were discovered on a property in Texas County, Oklahoma, less than 10 miles from where they vanished. It took authorities a day to locate the bodies after excavation began. Personal items that did not belong to Butler or Kelley were also found in the hole. Five suspects, Tifany Adams, Tad Bert Cullum, Cole Earl Twombly, Cora Twombly, and Paul Grice, have been arrested and charged with murder and kidnapping. They are being held at the Texas County Jail with no bond.
The suspects are facing charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and kidnapping. Most of the suspects are represented by public defenders, and there are currently no additional suspects in the case. The property where the bodies were found was rented by one of the suspects for cattle grazing. Butler and Adams were involved in a custody dispute over Butler’s two children. Adams is the mother of the children’s father. The investigation revealed that Adams had bought three pre-paid cellphones in February, and all three phones were in the area where Butler’s car was found around the time of the women’s disappearance.
On the day of her disappearance, Butler had planned to take her daughter to a birthday party during her visitation. Her family found her abandoned car near Highway 95, with evidence of severe injury nearby. Blood was found on the roadway, and Butler’s glasses were also found near a broken hammer. A pistol magazine was found in Kelley’s purse, but no pistol was located. An endangered missing advisory was issued by Texas County authorities later that day. The investigation also revealed that Adams’ son had discussed death threats made by Adams and one of the suspects, but it was not specified who the threats were directed at.
Evidence collected by authorities includes several items of clothing and materials that may have blood on them. Some of the items included Wrangler blue jeans, a black belt, sweatshirts, and a roll of duct tape. A 16-year-old witness stated that the suspects were part of an anti-government group with a religious affiliation named “God’s Misfits.” Meetings of the group were sometimes held at the Twomblys’ residence. A Facebook page associated with the group denied any involvement in the Oklahoma case, stating that they were a husband and wife spreading the message of Jesus. The investigation is ongoing, and further details may emerge as the case progresses.
