Two Kansas women who went missing while trying to pick up their children for a birthday party two weeks ago were implicated in a group of Oklahoma rebels who call themselves “God’s Misfits.” He was killed during a custody dispute, authorities said Monday.
Their car was found on March 30th along a highway in rural Oklahoma, with ample evidence of the bloody crash, prompting efforts to search for the women and avoid further violence while also ensuring the safety of their children. A multi-agency effort has begun to ensure that
Veronica Butler, 27, and Jillian Kelly, 39, of Hugoton, Kansas, met up with the grandmother of Butler’s two children at a freeway intersection on the morning of March 30th. I had promised to pick up my 6 and 8 year old children.
“This case did not end the way we had hoped. It was certainly a tragedy for everyone involved,” said Aungella Spurlock, director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
The four people arrested on Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping and first-degree murder are her grandmother, Tiffany Adams, 54; Her boyfriend, Tad Karam (43). Cora Twombly, 44 years old. Her arrest affidavit says she meets regularly with several other members of the group, all of whom call themselves “God’s Misfits.”
Relatives of Tad Karam and Twombly did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.
Elise Adams, Tiffany Adams’ stepmother, said she had no information regarding the incident.
Butler’s family found the car just a few miles away from the meeting point after the women missed a party in Kansas. It was a horrifying sight.
“Blood stains were found in the driveway and on the edge of the driveway. Butler’s glasses were also found south of the car in the road, near a broken hammer. A pistol magazine was found in Kelly’s handbag at the scene. , no pistol was found,” the affidavit states.
Investigators gathered evidence that the killings were premeditated, including that Adams purchased a prepaid “burner” cell phone for communication and five stun guns at a nearby store. According to her affidavit, her internet searches also included questions about her level of pain when using the weapon.
A teenage witness told authorities that at one point, Cora Twombly “planned to throw an anvil into Butler’s windshield while she was driving and make it look like an accident. The anvil was in her work vehicle. “It was because it would fall off regularly,” he said.
The affidavit said Butler and Adams were in a “contentious custody battle.” Adams’ son was in a rehabilitation facility hours away in Oklahoma City, and Butler was only allowed supervised visits every Saturday.
Kelly, the wife of a Hugoton pastor, was Butler’s court-approved person to supervise the visitation.
In 2022, the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals directed a judge to award joint custody to the children’s parents.
The ruling described the two as “very young and immature parents” who accused each other of “inappropriate behavior and choices,” but added that “the children were nurtured and comforted by their mother” and ” “I’m happy and excited to be with my dad.”
Butler’s attorney told investigators that her requests for more time with her children and unsupervised visitation are likely to be granted at a hearing in April.
On March 23, with a court date approaching, Adams purchased a stun gun. According to his affidavit, on March 29, Callum used heavy equipment to dig a hole in a rented pasture not far from the rally.
Officials did not say where the bodies were found at Monday’s news conference, but the affidavit said some “burner phones” stopped making calls that morning near a meadow and “holes… was dug up and backfilled.” Covered with hay. ”
It was not entirely clear where the children were during the search. Adams told investigators that he left her with another couple on March 29 and 30. The couple regularly hosted “God’s Misfits” gatherings, according to the affidavit.
Officials said the affidavit was not opened until the children were safe. “We were successful. There were no shots fired and the children were not harmed,” said District Attorney George Leach III.
The four people charged are being held without bail in the Texas County Jail until their court appearance Wednesday, Texas County Court Clerk Renee Ellis said. Court records do not indicate whether anyone had an attorney speak on their behalf.
When asked about Tiffany Adams, Elise Adams replied, “I don’t know anything about her business.” “All I can say about her is that she was a wonderful stepdaughter to me.”
OSBI spokesman Hunter McKee said the identity of the body and cause of death are pending the coroner’s report.
“This incident is tragic,” McKee said. “Two people died and four committed an extremely brutal crime.”
