Authorities in Oklahoma confirmed last weekend that two missing Kansas women, Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, were found dead. The women went missing on March 30 while driving to pick up Butler’s children for a birthday party. The bodies were discovered in Texas County, and four individuals were arrested in connection with the case. The suspects are part of an anti-government group called “God’s Misfits,” and charges against them include murder. Among the arrested individuals is Tifany Adams, the grandmother of Butler’s children, who was involved in a custody dispute with Butler.
The investigation into the case revealed that the killings were planned in advance. Evidence suggests that the suspects had purchased pre-paid cellphones and stun guns. The bodies of the two women were found more than two weeks after their disappearance, and the state medical examiner’s office has not yet released a report detailing how they were killed. The suspects are currently being held without bond, and court records did not indicate if they had attorneys representing them. Relatives of the suspects have not responded to requests for comment, and further details about the motive behind the killings have not been disclosed.
Veronica Butler was involved in a custody dispute with Tifany Adams and her son, leading to supervised visits with the children. Jilian Kelley, who was authorized to supervise the visits, was a pastor’s wife and mother of four children. Her husband, Heath Kelley, is a pastor at a church in Hugoton, Kansas. The community has been shocked by the news of the killings, and messages left with Butler’s family members have not been returned. The suspects, including Tifany Adams, Cora Twombly, Cole Twombly, and Tad Cullum, are facing charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder.
The four suspects, Tad Cullum, Cora Twombly, Tifany Adams, and Cole Twombly, are affiliated with an anti-government group that has a religious connection. The group called themselves “God’s Misfits” and held regular meetings at the homes of the Twomblys and another couple. Tifany Adams, the grandmother of Butler’s children, is also the chair of the Cimarron County Republican Party. The case has drawn attention to the rural county’s political landscape, with Oklahoma Republican Party officials expressing surprise at Adams’ involvement. The state party was not familiar with her, given the small population of Cimarron County.
All four suspects are expected to make their initial court appearance in Texas County District Court. During the initial appearance, a judge will review the formal charges and enter a plea on behalf of the defendants. The judge will also determine if the suspects have legal representation or require a state-appointed attorney. A follow-up court date will be scheduled for the defendants to appear again. The case has shocked the local community and raised questions about the motive behind the killings and the involvement of an anti-government group in the tragic incident.
