WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Four people arrested in connection with the disappearance of two Kansas women are now facing multiple charges, including murder and kidnapping.
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Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, of Hugoton, Kansas, disappeared on March 30 while driving into Oklahoma to pick up Butler’s children. Over the weekend, authorities found two bodies, which the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) has since identified as Butler and Kelley.
The medical examiner hasn’t yet released a cause of death.
Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39 (Courtesy: OSBI)
A day before the bodies were found, the OSBI said four people — Tifany Adams, 54; Tad Cullum, 43; Cole Twombly, 50; and Cora Twombly, 44 — had been taken into custody in connection with the case. Adams has since been identified as the grandmother of Butler’s children, and the girlfriend of Cullum.
The images below, captured by Nexstar’s KSNW, show Cullum, Adams, and the Trumbleys — all wearing bulletproof vests — arriving for their initial court appearances Wednesday morning in Texas County, Oklahoma.
Texas County Sheriff Matt Boley explained to KSNW that the agency decided to take extra safety precautions “due to the emotions that are running high” in the county on the Oklahoma-Kansas border.
“You know, we don’t want to take any chances,” Boley said, adding that there is expected to be a large law enforcement presence at every court hearing in this case.
The judge ordered the four suspects to be held without bond, citing that “proof of evidence or presumption of guilt is great.” The district attorney said he has not decided yet if he will pursue the death penalty against the suspects.
Arrest affidavits released Monday revealed that Adams was involved in a custody dispute with Butler. All four suspects were reportedly involved in an anti-government group called “God’s Misfits.”
Adams, Cullum, and Cole Twombly will hire their own attorneys. Cora Twombly said she is indigent, so the court will appoint an attorney to represent her.
The next court appearance in the case is May 15. Authorities have not released any additional information regarding the case.
Julia Thatcher of Nexstar’s KSNW was in the courtroom and described the scene in court as very emotional. She said the victims’ family members were weeping, hugging each other, even deputies. Butler’s father had to be physically restrained as each suspect walked through the courtroom doors.
“I watched a bailiff try to reason with him to be quiet, whispering the word ‘please’ just loud enough that I could hear it from a few rows up,” Thatcher reported.
Butler’s aunt, LaDonna Thompson, said she is confused about the custody battle being the alleged motive for the killings.
“How can you hate the mother of your grandchildren so much that you want to end her life?” she said.
