A fifth suspect, Paul Grice, was arrested in connection with the killing of two mothers in Oklahoma. He was booked on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. The victims, Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, disappeared on March 30 while traveling from Kansas to pick up Butler’s children from a birthday party in Oklahoma. Their remains were found on April 14 after they were last seen together in a vehicle that was later found abandoned in a rural area of Texas County.
Four others had already been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the women’s deaths. Tad Bert Cullum, Tifany Machel Adams, Cole Earl Twombly, and Cora Twombly were all arrested on April 14. According to an unsealed affidavit, Adams is the paternal grandmother of Butler’s children and was involved in a custody battle with her. Adams and Cullum were in a relationship as well. All five suspects reportedly belong to an anti-government group called “God’s Misfits” that met regularly at the Twombly’s home.
A teenage witness told investigators that the group had previously tried to kill Butler. The witness also implicated the suspects in the murders of Butler and Kelley. Despite the arrests, a judge denied bond and entered not guilty pleas for all four suspects. Family members of the deceased confronted the alleged killers at the courthouse, expressing their hope for justice to be served. Veronica Butler’s younger brother questioned how someone could hate another person so much that they would want to end their life, while her aunt expressed disbelief at the motive behind the murders.
Authorities continue to investigate the case and gather evidence against the suspects. The community is reeling from the shocking murders of the two mothers and the arrests of multiple individuals connected to the crime. The complex relationships between the suspects and the victims, as well as the involvement of an anti-government group, have added layers of complexity to the case. As the legal process unfolds, family members and loved ones of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley seek answers and justice for the senseless violence that took their lives. The investigation is ongoing, with updates expected in the coming days as more information is revealed about the tragic events that unfolded in Oklahoma.
