A chilling case unfolded in an Oklahoma courtroom Wednesday as two men, Tad Cullum and Cole Twombly, pleaded not guilty to the brutal murders of Jilian Kelley and Veronica Butler. The women, both mothers, vanished in March of 2024, sparking a desperate search that ended in a horrifying discovery.
The investigation revealed a sinister plot, culminating in the recovery of Kelley and Butler’s bodies inside a chest freezer, deliberately buried in a remote Texas County pasture. Both women had been repeatedly stabbed, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation confirmed, painting a picture of unimaginable violence.
Court records detail a litany of charges against Cullum, 43, and Twombly, 50, including first-degree murder, conspiracy, and the desecration of human remains. Their trials are not expected to begin for over a year, with Cullum’s scheduled for June 2026 and Twombly’s in October of the same year.
The judge authorized the release of jail phone calls and text messages involving all five individuals connected to the case, potentially revealing crucial insights into the events leading up to the murders. Investigators have focused on a connection between some of the suspects and a controversial group known as "God's Misfits," described as a religious, anti-government organization.
A small measure of solace came with the judge’s order to return personal belongings to the grieving families. Among the items returned were Jilian Kelley’s wedding ring and Veronica Butler’s vehicle, tangible reminders of the lives tragically cut short.
Veronica Butler’s mother, speaking after the hearing, urged the community to focus on prayer, seeking “redemption, forgiveness, and salvation for everyone involved.” Her words reflect a profound desire for peace amidst unimaginable pain.
The women disappeared while traveling to pick up Butler’s children, their abandoned car discovered near the Oklahoma-Kansas border under suspicious circumstances. This seemingly simple trip masked a complex web of relationships and a simmering custody dispute.
Another defendant, Tifany Adams, previously entered a no contest plea to two counts of first-degree murder, securing an agreement from prosecutors not to pursue the death penalty. Cora Twombly and Paul Grice are now expected to testify, potentially offering critical details about the case.
Prosecutors have made it clear they intend to seek the death penalty for both Cullum and Twombly, citing the particularly heinous nature of the crimes, the attempt to evade capture, and the perceived ongoing threat they pose. Court filings describe a meticulously planned murder, marked by prolonged abuse and brutal violence.
The investigation suggests the killings were rooted in a long-standing custody battle over Butler’s children. At the time of the disappearances, the children were in the care of Adams’ son, who was undergoing rehabilitation, with Butler granted supervised visitation rights that were soon to become unsupervised.
