Slayings of 2 Kan. Women Involved Anti-Government Fringe Group Members and Custody Battle, Police Believe

Tiffany Machel Adams, 54, was reportedly a member of "God's Misfits," which authorities allege is an anti-government religious group

• Tiffany Machel Adams is reportedly a member of "God's misfits," an anti-government religious group, and a former local GOP chair, per reports

• Adams was allegedly in a custody battle with Veronica Butler, the mother of her son's children, per authorities

• Butler was scheduled to be granted unsupervised visitation with her children before she disappeared, investigators say

A grandmother and former politician who was among four arrested in connection with the murder of two Kansas women was allegedly in a bitter custody battle with one of the victims, according to authorities.

Tiffany Machel Adams, 54, of Keys, Okla., has been charged with several offenses, including murder, in connection with the killings of Veronica Butler and Jillian Kelley, who disappeared under “suspicious” circumstances on March 30, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said on Saturday.

Authorities launched an investigation when the car in which the women were traveling was found abandoned on the side of the road, Texas County Sheriff's Department said at the time.

On March 30, deputies responded to the site of the abandoned car and “found some things that just weren’t adding up,” prompting them to notify OSBI, Sheriff Matt Boley said at a press conference on Monday.

Hunter McKee of OSBI confirmed at Monday’s press conference, which was live-streamed by KFDA, that there was “significant physical evidence” at the scene of disappearance that indicated “foul play.”

On Saturday, Adams was arrested alongside her boyfriend Tad Bert Cullum, 43, Cole Twombly, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, per the OSBI statement. All four have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to commit murder.

Plea and attorney information were not available for the four suspects in online records as of Tuesday.

On Sunday, authorities discovered two bodies in rural Texas County in connection with the arrests but did not disclose the names of the victims, according to an OSBI statement.

Related: 4 Arrested After Bodies Found in Connection with Disappearance of 2 Women in Oklahoma

During their investigation, authorities say they learned Adams, grandmother to Butler’s children, was allegedly embroiled in a bitter custody battle with the victim, the Des Moines Register, FOX 25 and WRHN reported.  

Authorities said Adams is the mother of Butler’s former romantic partner, per the outlets. 

Adams allegedly told police she spoke with Butler in the morning on March 30, when Butler was scheduled to pick up the children from her, the Des Moines Register, FOX 25 and WRHN reported, citing a probable cause affidavit. Police say that according to Adams, Butler told her she would not be able to make the pickup.

But when Butler did not return home that day, her family members grew concerned and notified police after they located her vehicle, per the affidavit, the outlets reported.

At a hearing scheduled for April 17, Butler was reportedly expected to be granted unsupervised visitation of the children, her lawyer told OSBI, per FOX 25 and the Des Moines Register.

Related: Preacher's Wife and Her Friend Go Missing in 'Suspicious Disappearance,' Okla. Police Say

Adams' son, the father of Butler's child, himself claimed that his mother would often keep his children away from him, the affidavit alleges, the Des Moines Register reported. Investigators say they reviewed recordings where Adams' son allegedly claimed that Adams and Callum had made death threats in connection with the custody issue, per affidavit, the outlet reports.

Adams is a former Cimarron County GOP chair, according to Republican leaders, the Des Moines Register reported.

The investigation revealed that all four suspects belonged to an anti-government religious group called "God's Misfits" and would meet regularly, per the affidavit, the Des Moines Register and FOX 25 reported. (The Facebook page for "God's Misfits" has made several posts denouncing the alleged crimes and refuting claims by police they are anti-government).

A teenager identified as a relative of Cora Twombly's allegedly told investigators that Cora said she and her husband Earl were headed out for a "mission" the day before the women went missing, per the affidavit, the Des Moines Register reported.

The teen allegedly said she was tasked with cleaning the couple's truck after they returned, and was told Butler and Kelley may have been put in a well, per the affidavit, the outlet reported.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The teen also allegedly claimed the four suspects, and another man who has not been arrested, have been plotting the killing since February and one point decided to “throw an anvil through Butler's windshield while driving, making it look like an accident because anvils regularly fall off of work vehicles,” the affidavit alleges, the Des Moines Register reported.

Families of Butler and Kelley have set up GoFundMe fundraisers for the victims.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.