HUGOTON, KS – The bodies of two Kansas mothers, Veronica Butler, 39, and Jilian Kelley, 27, were discovered in a chest freezer within a cow pasture, according to recently unveiled court documents. The grim discovery followed an extensive investigation after the pair vanished in late March.
The search for Butler and Kelley, which began when their abandoned car was found near the Oklahoma-Kansas border, was suspended in April. Authorities suspected foul play early on, given the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.
Court documents filed on May 15 revealed that the bodies were unearthed after a two-day excavation at a burial site in the pasture. However, the documents did not disclose the specific manner of their deaths, leaving many questions unanswered.
In connection with the case, five individuals have been arrested. Tad Bert Cullum, 43, Tifany Machel Adams, 54, Cole Earl Twombly, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, were initially detained. Shortly after, Paul Grice, 31, was also taken into custody. Grice allegedly inquired about the longevity of DNA on clothing buried deep in the dirt and sought advice on how to flee to Mexico.
The suspects are linked to a religiously affiliated anti-government group known as “God’s Misfits.” It remains unclear whether Grice was a member of this group. Adams, one of those arrested, is reportedly the grandmother of Butler’s children and was embroiled in a custody dispute with Butler. The children’s father is currently in a rehabilitation facility.
Court records indicate that the custody battle began in February 2019 and continued with numerous hearings and court appearances. In the weeks leading up to Butler’s death, motions were filed seeking extended visitation rights for her.