A fifth person has been arrested on charges in the deaths of two women from Hugoton, Kan. Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, a minister’s wife, went missing March 30 and were found dead on an Oklahoma farm April 14.
On Wednesday, Paul Grice, 31, was booked into the Texas County Jail in Oklahoma on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a statement Wednesday. The charges are identical to those faced by the first four suspects, who were arrested April 13: Tifany Machel Adams, 54; Tad Bert Cullum, 43; Cole Earl Twombly, 50; and Cora Twombly, 44; all are from Oklahoma.
According to media reports based on court documents, Jilian Kelley, 39—the wife of Heath Kelley, minister with Hugoton First Christian Church—was accompanying Veronica Butler, 27, on a child-custody exchange, when the two went missing. The women never made it to the pick-up location, and Butler’s abandoned car was later found in rural Oklahoma, about 40 miles from Hugoton.
Adams is the grandmother of Butler’s two children. Court documents indicate Adams’ son, Wrangler Rickman, the father of Butler’s children, has been involved in a custody battle with Butler. An affidavit of probable cause released April 15 indicated the custody dispute as the possible motive for the alleged kidnapping-murder. (Rickman is not charged with a crime in this matter.)
Butler and Kelley were to pick up the children from Adams on the morning of their disappearance. Authorities say the children are safe.
According to authorities, Cullum is Adams’ boyfriend, and the Twomblys—a married couple—along with Grice, all are friends who belong to an anti-government group called “God’s Misfits” that would meet regularly.
At a hearing a week ago, a judge entered not guilty pleas for the first four suspects. Bond was denied.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICES SET
A Celebration of Life service for Jilian Kelley is set for 10 a.m. April 30 at Hugoton First Christian Church. Family and friends are encouraged to wear yellow.
Jilian and Heath Kelley were married in 2002 and were blessed with four children.
“Jilian led a life dedicated to her faith and service to others as a devoted Christian woman and pastor’s wife,” according to an obituary posted by Robson Funeral Home. “She filled the role of the First Christian Church of Hugoton’s secretary with grace and compassion. Jilian’s influence extended to the younger generation through her leadership at Wednesday Night Olympian and Gopher Buddies Children’s Church. . . .”
“A memorial has been established for First Christian Church of Hugoton or Willow Christian Church of Indianola, Neb. [where Heath Kelley is scheduled to soon start a pastorate]. Whomever you choose for your contribution, the money will be spent on one of Jilian’s favorite pastimes, having children grow in their relationship with Jesus. Memorials are in the care of Robson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 236, Hugoton, KS 67951.”
An obituary for Veronica Butler also has been posted by Robson Funeral Home. It describes her love for her two children, and her enjoyment of cooking and gardening. She worked as a certified nursing assistant and was attending Seward County Community College.
She was a dedicated member of the Hugoton Assembly of God Church, where she helped with the 180 Youth on Wednesday nights and with Blessing Bags, the obituary said.
A Celebration of Life Service for Veronica Butler is set for 11 a.m. May 3 at Hugoton Assembly of God Church, with pastor Tim Singer presiding.
A memorial has also been established. The obituary says checks can be made to Veronica Butler’s Children Education Fund, in the care of Robson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 236, Hugoton, KS 67951.
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