Oklahoma authorities provide update on missing Kansas women

Ryan Newton
·2 min read
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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) provided an update on the case of two missing Kansas women.

Twenty-seven-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley went missing on Saturday. The car they were in was found abandoned near Highway 95 and Road L in far northwest Oklahoma, just south of Elkhart, Kansas.

The Texas County Sheriff's Department requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate the suspicious disappearance of 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley. (Courtesy: OSBI)
The Texas County Sheriff’s Department requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate the suspicious disappearance of 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley. (Courtesy: OSBI)

On Wednesday, the OSBI announced that there was evidence of foul play from the vehicle.

Hunter McKee, OSBI Public Information manager, was asked Thursday if the two women were alive.

“We are not sure at this time. We are investigating this as everything is on the table. We are hopeful that they are still alive, but we are going to do everything in our power to track these two people down as quickly as we can,” McKee said.

McKee said OSBI authorities do not believe that the public is in immediate danger. He added that law enforcement agencies have been searching and following up on leads. It includes where the women were heading. Another law enforcement agency said the women were en route to pick up children.

Kansas community speaks on missing women

“Right now, our agents are still investigating where their final destination was and where these women were traveling to,” said McKee. “We know they were traveling from Kansas. We know they were driving through Oklahoma, and their abandoned vehicle was found in Oklahoma.”

As for suspects, the OSBI said they have made no arrests.

“Because there is foul play involved in this case, we are doing what we can to identify possible suspects,” McKee said. “Then, if anything changes in regards to that or that we are specifically looking for, we will let the public know.”

Watch the full news conference below:

If you have any tips on the disappearance, contact the OSBI at OSBI@ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017.

“This is extremely sad and extremely unfortunate,” Mckee said. “We are hopeful to find out what happened very soon.”

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