OSBI: Bodies found Sunday identified as 2 missing Kansas women
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) -- The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the Oklahoma chief medical examiner positively identified the two bodies found in rural Texas County on Sunday as 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones, along with everyone throughout their community," stated the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation on their Facebook page.
Attorney Garrett R. Oates, the Oklahoma attorney representing Butler in her child custody battle, released his first state following her disappearance to NewsNation Investigative Journalist Laura Ingle:
This case highlights the conflict, stress, and magnitude of decisions that go into any child custody case. This was a case that was contentious from the beginning and had become increasingly contentious as time went on.
It's so unfortunate and I am so deeply saddened by the loss fo my client, Veronica. I know all she ever wanted was to lover her children."
Attorney Garrett R. Oates
Four affidavits made public on Monday detail the connection between the four people who have been arrested in the alleged kidnapping and murders of Jilian Kelley and Veronica Butler of Kansas on Saturday, March 30.
The four people arrested Saturday on charges of kidnapping and first-degree murder are the grandmother, Tifany Adams, 54; her boyfriend Tad Cullum, 43; Cora Twombly, 44; and her husband Cole Twombly, 50. All were members of the self-proclaimed anti-government group "God’s Misfits."
Butler and Kelley were traveling from Hugoton to Oklahoma to pick up children on Saturday, March 30, and never made it. Their vehicle was later found abandoned on the side of the road near Highway 95 and Road L, south of Elkhart, Kansas, in Texas County, Oklahoma.
After the OSBI stated there was evidence of foul play in their disappearance, NewsNation, which is owned by KSN’s parent company Nexstar, stated the moms were shot and that blood was found near their car. Days later, the four arrests were made.
For more details into the case, read "Affidavits detail alleged plot targeting 2 Kansas women." To read other articles related to the case, click here.
The four suspects will be in court Wednesday morning. KSN's Julia Thatcher be there for their first appearances. We'll have the latest coverage on KSN News at noon, 4, 5, and 6.