Four arrested, two bodies found: What we know about two Kansas women missing in Oklahoma

Jana Hayes, The Oklahoman
Updated ·3 min read
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Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, were last seen in the Texas County area in early April. Investigators are still searching for the moms, who initially ventured out on the road to pick up their children.
Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, were last seen in the Texas County area in early April. Investigators are still searching for the moms, who initially ventured out on the road to pick up their children.

Investigators are still seeking information about two missing women last seen in a rural part of the Oklahoma panhandle, but several advancements in the case were made over the weekend.

Two bodies were recovered in rural Texas County, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced Sunday night on its Facebook page. The post said the remains will be taken to the Medical Examiner's Office to determine identification, and cause and manner of death. The investigation is ongoing, the OSBI added.

The day before, four arrests were made in relation to the case.

Here's everything we know so far about the investigation into their disappearance.

Affidavit: Details emerge in bitter custody battle between Kansas woman, 'God's Misfits'

'No' chance missing women are still alive, murder charges filed, OSBI says

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Hunter McKee said there is no hope that Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, are still alive. McKee could not say what condition the bodies were in or provide any information about the property they were found on.

"There are two people who are dead and four people who committed an absolutely brutal crime," McKee said Monday in a joint press conference held by the OSBI, FBI, Texas County Sheriff's office and Texas County District Attorney's office.

Four arrested after two women go missing in Oklahoma

The OSBI identified the four people arrested in connection to the case Monday.

The four arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree are:

  • Tad Bert Cullum, 43

  • Tifany Machel Adams, 54

  • Cole Earl Twombly, 50

  • Cora Twombly, 44

All four individuals arrested were booked into the Texas County jail Saturday, each for two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said.

One arrest was made in Texas County, and three were made in Cimarron County, OSBI spokesperson Hunter McKee said.

Who are the two women missing in Oklahoma?

Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, were first reported missing in the Oklahoma panhandle March 30. The two women were on their way to a supervised visit with Butler's children, but never made it to the pickup location or to a birthday party Butler's family expected her at.

Their car was found abandoned that day in rural Texas County, Oklahoma — near Highway 95 and Road L, just south of the Oklahoma/Kansas border, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation told USA Today. OSBI announced it suspected foul play in early April, based on evidence from the vehicle.

On Monday, the two women were confirmed dead.

GoFundMe fundraisers started for Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley

A fundraiser was started last week on GoFundMe for Butler's family by her cousin, Monica Barrera, according to the fundraiser's description.

A fundraiser on GoFundMe was started for the family of Veronica Butler, 27.
A fundraiser on GoFundMe was started for the family of Veronica Butler, 27.

"Please consider donating to this precious family in hope that we can help lessen some of the burden," Barrera wrote.

According to court documents, Butler was embroiled in a custody battle with Tifany Machel Adams, 54, who is the grandmother of Butler's two young children and one of four arrested in connection to her death.

Butler was granted court-ordered visitation every Saturday, and because her usual supervisor was unavailable on the day of her disappearance, another supervisor, Kelley, went with Butler to pick up her kids from Adams.

A GoFundMe fundraiser was also started last week for Kelley's family, and the description states that she was a pastor's wife and mother of four children.

"As the undesirable outcome was announced that Jillian's life has been taken, we are asking for help by making any donation to lessen the financial burden brought forth on the Kelley family," the fundraiser description reads.

A fundraiser on GoFundMe was started for the family of Jilian Kelley, 39.
A fundraiser on GoFundMe was started for the family of Jilian Kelley, 39.

Kelley's husband had recently agreed to serve as pastor at a church in Nebraska, starting in June, reports the Christian Post. Their current congregation in Hugoton and new church in Nebraska posted calls for prayer and support on social media.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Two Kansas women missing in Oklahoma: What we know about bodies found, arrests