Current:Home > NewsThe bodies of two Kansas women who disappeared in Oklahoma were found in a buried freezer -Ascend Wealth Education
The bodies of two Kansas women who disappeared in Oklahoma were found in a buried freezer
View
Date:2025-04-14 17:32:10
The bodies of two Kansas women who disappeared in Oklahoma were found in a buried freezer, according to recently unsealed court documents.
The bodies of Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, both of Hugoton, Kansas, were found April 14 buried on land in rural Texas County and rented by Tad Cullum, who is among five people charged with kidnapping and killing the two women, according to the documents unsealed March 15.
Also found on the land, which Cullum rented for cattle grazing, were articles of clothing, duct tape and a knife, each “with possible blood on them,” in addition to black tape, electrical cord and a combination stun gun/flashlight, according to the documents.
Cullum, 43, his girlfriend Tifany Adams, 54, both of Keyes, Oklahoma; husband and wife Cole Twombly, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, of Texhoma, Oklahoma; and Paul Grice, 31, are each charged with two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping and a single count of conspiracy to commit murder.
All are being held without bail and a gag order in the case prohibits attorneys from commenting on the case.
Investigators have said Butler and Adams were in a bitter child dispute over custody of Butler’s children, who are Adams’ grandchildren.
Butler’s attorney told investigators that Butler was likely to be granted unsupervised visitation during a hearing scheduled just more than two weeks after the two disappeared, the documents state.
Butler and Kelley, who was to supervise a visitation with Butler and her children, disappeared March 30 while driving to pick up Butler’s two children from Adams for a birthday party.
The women’s car was found near the rural highway intersection about 260 miles (418 kilometers) from where Butler was to pick up her son and daughter. Butler’s glasses were found near the car and blood was found on the roadway, according to an arrest affidavit.
The buried freezer with the bodies inside was found about 8.5 miles (14 kilometers) from where the car was found and in the area where prepaid cell phones purchased by Adams were traced, according to the court documents.
A witness also told an investigator the Grice had asked him shortly after the bodies were found how long it would take the state lab to process DNA evidence, how long DNA would tast in dirt, how long DNA would last on clothing in dirt in a 15 feet deep hole and if he knew how to get a “guy and his family” into Mexico, according to documents.
The witness told the investigator that Grice said he was concerned about his DNA being in the hole where the bodies were found “because he had been to the Twombly residence.”
Another witness told Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents that all five suspects were part of “an anti-government group that had a religious affiliation” known as “God’s Misfits” according to an affidavit.
veryGood! (2)
Related
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Tech CEO Justin Bingham Dead at 40 After 200-Ft. Fall at National Park in Utah
- Pregnant Brittany Mahomes Shares Glimpse at Zoo Family Day With Patrick Mahomes and Their Kids
- Days of Our Lives Star Drake Hogestyn's Cause of Death Revealed
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Dr. Dre sued by former marriage counselor for harassment, homophobic threats: Reports
- Days of Our Lives Star Drake Hogestyn's Cause of Death Revealed
- Hurricane Leslie tracker: Storm downgraded from Category 2 to Category 1
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- 1 dead and several injured after a hydrogen sulfide release at a Houston plant
Ranking
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- The drownings of 2 Navy SEALs were preventable, military investigation finds
- Mauricio Umansky Files for Conservatorship Over Father Amid Girlfriend's Alleged Abuse
- Pharrell says being turned into a Lego for biopic 'Piece by Piece' was 'therapeutic'
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Chicago man charged with assaulting two officers during protests of Netanyahu address to Congress
- Man mauled to death by 'several dogs' in New York, prompting investigation: Police
- Kanye West Sued by Ex-Employee Who Says He Was Ordered to Investigate Kardashian Family
Recommendation
IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
The drownings of 2 Navy SEALs were preventable, military investigation finds
JoJo Siwa, Miley Cyrus and More Stars Who’ve Shared Their Coming Out Story
DirecTV has a new free streaming service coming. Here's what we know
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Tigers ready to 'fight and claw' against Guardians in decisive Game 5 of ALDS
Hurricane Leslie tracker: Storm downgraded from Category 2 to Category 1
Residents clean up and figure out what’s next after Milton