The bodies of Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, were found in a freezer in Oklahoma after being missing since March 30. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation released search warrants connected to the case, which detailed how the bodies were found along with items such as a saw handle, tape, a knife, and clothing with possible blood stains that did not belong to the victims. Butler had arranged to visit her children, who were living with their paternal grandmother, Tifany Adams, but she and Kelley never returned home, leading to the discovery of their bodies.
Butler and Adams were involved in a custody battle since 2019, with Adams requiring supervision during visits with Butler’s children. Adams had called off a visit with Butler, saying “something came up,” and her internet searches raised suspicions. Adams and her boyfriend, Tad Cullum, were connected to Cora and Cole Twombly and Paul Grice, who are part of an anti-government group called God’s Misfits. Adams had purchased three pre-paid phones that were in the area of Butler’s abandoned car at the time of her disappearance.
The group of five individuals were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder. They are being held without bond at the Texas County Jail in Guymon. Kelley, who was the wife of a pastor and a mother of four, was one of the victims found in the freezer. The details of how the women were killed have not yet been determined, as reports from the medical examiner are still pending.
The daughter of Cora Twombly provided information to OSBI agents, stating she overheard conversations implicating the group in the deaths of Butler and Kelley. The Twomblys had planned to kill Butler by causing her to crash her car and then throwing an anvil through her windshield. Adams had purchased the pre-paid phones that were associated with the disappearance of Butler and Kelley, leading investigators to a property where a freezer containing the bodies was found.
The shocking discovery of the bodies of Butler and Kelley has sent shockwaves through their community and beyond. The Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner positively identified the two deceased women and expressed condolences to their loved ones. The case continues to unfold as more information is gathered, and the authorities work to uncover the full extent of the crimes committed by the group charged with the murder and kidnapping of the two women.
The tragic deaths of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley highlight the dangers of custody battles and the lengths some individuals will go to in order to exert control over others. The brutality of their deaths and the circumstances surrounding the discovery of their bodies have left many in shock and disbelief. As the investigation progresses, more details may emerge about the motive behind the killings and the events leading up to the fateful day when the two women went missing. The community continues to mourn the loss of Butler and Kelley, while seeking justice for the heinous crimes committed against them.
