‘Evidence to Indicate Foul Play’ in Women’s Disappearance

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation believes foul play may have been involved in the disappearance of a western Kansas pastor’s wife and another woman. 

The women—Jilian Kelley, 39, and Veronica Butler, 27—have been missing since Saturday. Kelley is the wife of Heath Kelley, pastor of Hugoton First Christian Church. 

The women on Saturday had left Hugoton, Kan., to pick up Butler’s children in Oklahoma.  

Their vehicle was found abandoned along a rural highway in northwest, Okla. The women remain missing. 

The OSBI on Wednesday afternoon said it suspects a crime may have been involved in the women’s disappearance. 

“Based on the information obtained from the victim’s vehicle, our investigators believe there was evidence to indicate foul play,” the bureau said on its Facebook page. “We are still searching for these victims and there are no arrests at this time. We ask that anyone with additional information please contact the OSBI at tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017.” 

The story of the women’s disappearance has made national headlines and been featured on numerous news outlets. 

Late last fall, Heath Kelley accepted a call to serve as minister with Willow Christian Church in Indianola, Neb. He has not yet started that pastorate.  

Both the Kansas and Nebraska congregations have been holding prayer meetings while awaiting word about the two women. 

The women had been traveling in Butler’s vehicle, which was found abandoned south of Elkhart, Kan., about 40 miles from Hugoton. The women never reached their destination.  

The Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation initially called the disappearance “suspicious.”