Newly released court documents have provided detailed information on the motive and evidence behind the alleged murder-kidnapping of two women from Kansas. Prosecutors have revealed that these documents shed light on the disturbing circumstances surrounding their disappearance and killing.
The affidavit of probable cause for the arrest warrants of the four suspects arrested in connection with the alleged murder of moms Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, was released on Monday.
Tad Bert Cullum, aged 43, Tifany Machel Adams, aged 54, Cole Earl Twombly, aged 50, and Cora Twombly, aged 44, are the four individuals who are currently in custody.
Ongoing custody battle
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According to court documents, investigators revealed that Butler was involved in a contentious custody battle with Tifany Adams’ son for the care and custody of Butler’s two children.
According to the documents, Adams is the grandmother of Butler’s children and the mother of the kids’ father, Wrangler Rickman, who has legal custody.
According to the documents, the custody battle between Butler and Rickman commenced in February 2019.
Investigators obtained previous recordings of child custody cases in which Rickman allegedly discussed death threats made by his mother and her boyfriend, fellow suspect Tad Cullum, with legal representatives.
On March 30, when Butler and Kelley went missing, Kelley was assigned the responsibility of overseeing Butler’s court-ordered custody exchange with Adams at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Adams’ preferred custody supervisor, Cheryl Brune, was reportedly unable to attend the March 30 exchange. However, investigators were informed that Adams had instructed Brune to take time off.
According to the documents, the children’s father was reportedly staying at a rehabilitation facility in Oklahoma City when they disappeared.
According to investigators, Adams stated that she was at home when Butler called to cancel the custody exchange at 9:00 a.m., local time.
Evidence near the vehicle
Authorities have discovered Butler and Kelley’s vehicle abandoned in rural Oklahoma, close to the Kansas border, during the investigation into their disappearance.
Documents reveal that Butler’s glasses were discovered in the roadway south of the vehicle, alongside a broken hammer. Furthermore, a pistol magazine was found inside Kelley’s purse at the scene, although no pistol was located.
Anti-government group
According to the affidavit, Cora and Cole Twombly, a married couple, are believed to be members of an anti-government group called “God’s Misfits” along with Adams and Cullum.
An unnamed teenager alerted the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation about the possible involvement of the Twomblys in the reported murder-kidnapping, as stated in court documents.
According to the investigators, the teenager claimed to have overheard Cora admitting her role in the deaths and witnessed the use of burner phones in the alleged scheme.
According to officials, all four suspects are set to appear in court for their initial hearing on Wednesday.
Unidentified bodies discovered
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, and the Texas County Sheriff’s Office have announced that the bodies found will be taken to the Office of the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner. Once there, the bodies will undergo examination to determine their identification and the cause and manner of death.
The identity of the deceased has not been disclosed by the authorities.