Two Men Plead Not Guilty in Kansas Murder Case
In a recent court appearance in Oklahoma, two men faced charges related to the murders of two mothers from Kansas. Tad Karam, 43, and Cole Twombly, 50, both pleaded not guilty to multiple charges connected to the deaths of 39-year-old Jillian Kelly and 27-year-old Veronica Butler. They are facing serious accusations, including two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful removal, and desecration of human remains.
Mr. Karam’s trial is set for June 1, 2026, while Mr. Twombly’s trial will begin on October 19, 2026. At a hearing on Wednesday, a judge approved a motion that allows the attorneys for Karam, Twombly, and co-defendant Tiffany Adams to access jail phone calls and text messages made by all five defendants in the case. Authorities noted that some individuals involved are linked to a religious opposition group known as “God’s Misfits.”
In a separate decision, the judge ordered the return of personal items such as Kelly’s wedding ring and Butler’s car to their families. After the hearing, Butler’s mother expressed that the best way to remember the women is through prayer, urging the community to pray for “salvation, forgiveness, and healing for everyone involved.”
Authorities reported that Butler and Kelly went missing on March 30, 2024, while on their way to pick up Butler’s children. Their abandoned car was found near the Oklahoma-Kansas border under suspicious circumstances. Two weeks later, investigators discovered their bodies hidden in a chest freezer buried in a rural Texas county. Both women had been stabbed to death, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Karam, Twombly, and two others—Tiffany Machelle Adams, 54, and Cora Twombly, 44—were arrested on April 13, 2024. A fifth suspect, Paul Grice, 31, was apprehended shortly after. Adams has since pleaded no contest to several charges, including first-degree murder, and has a plea agreement that avoids the death penalty in her case.
Texas County District Attorney George H. Leach III plans to seek the death penalty for both Karam and Twombly, citing aggravating factors. Prosecutors highlight that the killings were particularly brutal and that the defendants made efforts to evade capture. They’ve also stated that the murders were premeditated over several weeks, involving extensive physical abuse before the victims’ deaths.
Investigators believe the murders may be tied to a custody battle surrounding Butler’s children. At the time of their disappearance, Adams’ son, who had custody of the children, was in a rehab facility. Butler had been granted supervised visitation and was anticipated to gain unsupervised visitation rights soon.
