Grandmother Tifany Machel Adams, along with her boyfriend Tad Bert Cullum, Cole Twombly, and Cora Twombly, have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the deaths of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley. The motive behind the killings was believed to be related to a child custody battle over Butler’s two children, as Adams’ son had custody of the children and Butler was likely to gain unsupervised visitation rights soon. Butler and Kelley were last seen alive on March 30 en route to a court-supervised visit with Butler’s children, but when they did not return as planned, their families launched a search for them.
Investigators found evidence of severe injury near the women’s abandoned car, including blood on the road, a broken hammer, and Butler’s glasses. A pistol magazine was discovered in Kelley’s purse, but the gun was missing from the scene. Through interviews with the Twombly’s 16-year-old daughter and data from burner phones, investigators were led to the bodies of the women on April 14 in a cow pasture leased by Cullum. Adams initially claimed that Butler had canceled her visit with the children, but phone records indicated otherwise, revealing that Butler was picking up Kelley for the visit, who was her preferred supervisor.
The investigation also uncovered disturbing searches on Adams’ phone, such as queries about taser pain levels, gun shops, prepaid phones, and methods to get someone out of a house. It was revealed that Adams had purchased five stun guns before the women went missing. The Twombly’s daughter told police that her parents, Adams, and Cullum were responsible for the murders and had been communicating secretly about their plans using burner phones provided by Adams, who also purchased the phones. The group belonged to a religiously-affiliated anti-government organization called “God’s Misfits,” and their initial plan was to stage the deaths as accidents.
The 16-year-old revealed that conversations among the suspects suggested that Butler was not protecting her children from sexual abuse allegations involving her brother, which may have played a role in their motive. The group allegedly discussed placing the women in a well, and one of the suspects mentioned a fifth party involved in planning the murders. Investigators linked the suspects to the purchase of prepaid phones through tracking the locations of the devices, leading them to the burial site of the victims covered with hay. While the exact causes of death are pending a medical examiner’s report, authorities have confirmed that Butler and Kelley are deceased, stating that the case is a tragic and brutal crime.
The suspects belonged to an anti-government group called “God’s Misfits,” which potentially played a role in their motives for the killings. Adams’ son had custody of Butler’s children, and there were discussions among the suspects about issues related to child protection and potential sexual abuse allegations involving Butler’s brother. The group had plans to stage the murders as accidents initially but later progressed to more insidious methods, culminating in the deaths of the two women. The search history on Adams’ phone revealed a focus on weaponry and ways to harm individuals, indicating a level of premeditation in their actions.
The ongoing investigation has uncovered details surrounding the planning and execution of the murders, as well as the involvement of additional parties in the scheme. The discovery of the victims’ bodies in a remote location tied back to purchases made by the suspects and their use of burner phones for communication. The tragic case has left two families devastated and shocked by the brutality of the crimes committed. The suspects are facing serious charges and potentially severe consequences for their actions, highlighting the dangers of custody battles and the lengths some individuals will go to in order to achieve their goals. The community and law enforcement continue to grapple with the aftermath of this horrific crime as they seek justice for the victims and their families.
