Texas County, Oklahoma – Four suspects, charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder in connection to the deaths of two Kansas mothers, were arraigned in an Oklahoma court where they were denied bond. The suspects include paternal grandmother Tifany Adams, her boyfriend Tad Cullum, Cora Twombly, and her husband Cole Twombly, who are accused of the murder of Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39.
Butler and Kelley went missing on March 30 while on their way to pick up Butler’s children for a supervised visit. Family members of the victims attended the arraignment, expressing their emotions as the suspects were brought into court. The victims’ families condemned the suspects, shouting expletives at them during the emotionally charged hearing.
The bodies of Butler and Kelley were found in Texas County, Oklahoma, just over two weeks after their disappearance. The discovery was made during a search for their remains by authorities. The cause of death for both women is still pending from the medical examiner’s office.
The investigation revealed a contentious custody battle between Adams and Butler, with Butler seeking full custody of her children. The suspects, reportedly part of an anti-government religious group called “God’s Misfits,” have become central figures in the case. Police believe that the custody battle was a motive for the killings.
Authorities found evidence linking the suspects to the deaths, including web searches on Adams’ cellphone related to tasers, guns, and removing someone from a house. Witness testimonies implicated the suspects in the murders, with discussions of a “mission” on the day of the disappearance and plans to eliminate both Butler and Kelley.
Vincent Forbes, a friend of one of the suspects, expressed shock at the arrests and described the tragedy as “close to home.” Forbes’ public statements about the case led to his resignation as a municipal court judge. The investigation remains ongoing, with more details emerging about the suspects and the events leading to the deaths of Butler and Kelley.