Current:Home > MarketsThe bodies of two Kansas women who disappeared in Oklahoma were found in a buried freezer -MoneyTrend
The bodies of two Kansas women who disappeared in Oklahoma were found in a buried freezer
View
Date:2025-04-21 09:28:44
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! (592)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Parties in lawsuits seeking damages for Maui fires reach $4B global settlement, court filings say
- Boxing fiasco sparks question: Do future Olympics become hunt for those who are different?
- Stephen Nedoroscik, 'pommel horse guy,' wins bronze in event: Social media reactions
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- How Team USA's Daniela Moroz can put a bow on her parents' American dream
- NFL Star Josh Allen Makes Rare Comment About Relationship With Hailee Steinfeld
- Ballerina Farm, Trad Wives and the epidural conversation we should be having
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- Zac Efron Hospitalized After Swimming Pool Incident in Ibiza
Ranking
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- MrBeast’s giant reality competition faces safety complaints from initial contestants
- Some Yankee Stadium bleachers fans chant `U-S-A!’ during `O Canada’ before game against Blue Jays
- Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony: Class of 2024, How to watch and stream, date, time
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword, Look Behind You! (Freestyle)
- Stephen Nedoroscik, 'pommel horse guy,' wins bronze in event: Social media reactions
- Vitriol about female boxer Imane Khelif fuels concern of backlash against LGBTQ+ and women athletes
Recommendation
Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
What to watch: Workin' on our Night moves
Aerosmith Announces Retirement From Touring After Steven Tyler's Severe Vocal Cord Injury
Mark Kelly may be Kamala Harris' VP pick: What that would mean for Americans
The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
That's not my cat... but, maybe I want it to be? Inside the cat distribution system
Meta to pay Texas $1.4 billion in 'historic settlement' over biometric data allegations
S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq end sharply lower as weak jobs report triggers recession fears