The bodies of two Kansas women who disappeared in the Oklahoma Panhandle in March were found in a chest freezer buried in a cow pasture, as per court records tied to five suspects charged with murder and kidnapping. Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, went missing on March 30, and their remains were discovered on a property in Texas County, Oklahoma, less than 10 miles from where they vanished. Personal items not belonging to the women were also found in the hole where the bodies were located. The suspects, Tifany Adams, Tad Bert Cullum, Cole Earl Twombly, Cora Twombly, and Paul Grice, have all been arrested and are currently being held with no bond at the Texas County Jail.
Charges against the suspects include two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and two counts of kidnapping. While all the suspects except Cullum are represented by public defenders, the state bureau of investigation has stated that there are no additional suspects at this time. The property where the bodies were found buried was rented by Cullum for cattle grazing. Butler and Adams were involved in a problematic custody dispute over Butler’s two children, with Adams being the mother of the children’s father. Butler had recently requested extended visitation of her children, with her lawyer stating she would likely receive unsupervised visitation.
The investigation revealed that Adams had purchased three pre-paid cellphones in February, which were in the area where Butler’s car was found around the time of the women’s disappearance. Evidence collected by authorities includes various items of clothing and materials that may have blood on them, such as Wrangler blue jeans, a brown sweatshirt, a black hooded sweatshirt, a reddish-pink sweatshirt, and a roll of duct tape. Additionally, a 16-year-old witness informed investigators that the suspects belong to an anti-government group with a religious affiliation named “God’s Misfits,” with meetings sometimes being held at the Twomblys’ residence.
On the day of her disappearance, Butler was planning to take her daughter to a birthday party during her visitation. Her family members later found her abandoned car near Highway 95, with evidence of severe injury in the vicinity. Blood was found on the roadway along with a broken hammer, while Butler’s glasses and Kelley’s purse containing a pistol magazine were also discovered. An endangered missing advisory was issued by Texas County authorities that same day. Recordings in the custody case also revealed discussions of death threats by Adams and Cullum, though the affidavit did not specify who the threats were directed at.
Authorities took a day to locate the bodies following the commencement of excavation. The court records also indicate that Adams’ son had discussed death threats made by Adams and Cullum, with indications that Adams had at times prevented the children’s father from seeing his children despite having legal custody. The investigation is ongoing, with evidence suggesting a link between Adams and the suspicious activity surrounding the disappearance of Butler and Kelley. The case has generated significant attention due to the gruesome discovery and the involvement of multiple suspects with ties to an organized group with possible religious affiliations.
