Five Arrested in Connection to Murder of Kansas Moms Who Vanished While Picking Up Children

Court documents reveal gruesome details in the deaths of two Kansas women found buried in a chest freezer, including the alleged involvement of a religious anti-government group and a custody battle.

In the heart of America's Great Plains, a chilling tale has unfolded that has shocked a small Kansas community and exposed a sinister plot that ended in the brutal murder of two young mothers. Jilian Kelley, 39, and Veronica Butler, 27, embarked on a fateful journey to Oklahoma on March 30, intending to retrieve Butler's children from the children's grandmother, Tifany Machel Adams.

However, their trip ended abruptly when their car was discovered abandoned near the Oklahoma-Kansas border. Foul play was immediately suspected, and a massive search operation was launched. Days turned into weeks as investigators relentlessly pursued every lead in the perplexing disappearance of the two women.

Five Arrested in Connection to Murder of Kansas Moms Who Vanished While Picking Up Children

Court documents obtained by local media outlet KSNW have now shed a horrifying light on the events that transpired, implicating five individuals in the cold-blooded murder of Butler and Kelley. Paul Grice, Tad Cullum, and Adams have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. Cole and Cora Twombly face similar charges.

According to the documents, Grice allegedly stabbed Butler to death while Cullum is believed to have killed Kelley. Grice's hand was severely cut during the slaying, leaving behind crucial DNA evidence. Both women's bodies were subsequently concealed in a chest freezer and buried in a cow pasture.

Five Arrested in Connection to Murder of Kansas Moms Who Vanished While Picking Up Children

Investigators have uncovered a chilling motive behind the murder: a custody battle over Butler's children. Adams, the children's grandmother, was allegedly involved in a dispute with Butler and her boyfriend, Wrangler Rickman, who had custody of the children. Rickman was reportedly in a rehabilitation facility at the time of the killings.

Adams' alleged role in the plot extended beyond the custody battle. She is accused of purchasing stun devices, yellow straps found around the freezer, and even the pants that Cullum wore and buried with the victims. The Twomblys allegedly served as lookouts on the day of the murder and confided in their 16-year-old daughter, hoping she would provide them with an alibi.

Five Arrested in Connection to Murder of Kansas Moms Who Vanished While Picking Up Children

Interviews with the Twombly's daughter and a review of Adams' phone data led investigators to discover the women's bodies on April 14. The 16-year-old revealed that her parents told her they would "not have to worry about [Butler] again" and that the two may have been placed in a well.

The gruesome details of the murder have sent shockwaves through the close-knit community where the victims lived. Kelley's husband, Kevin, has spoken out about the devastating loss of his wife and the chilling nature of her death. "It's really hard to imagine that somebody would do that," he said.

Five Arrested in Connection to Murder of Kansas Moms Who Vanished While Picking Up Children

The four suspects charged in the killings reportedly belong to a religiously affiliated anti-government group called "God's Misfits." Investigators believe that their motive was to gain custody of Butler's children.

The state is arguing that all the defendants should face a preliminary hearing together since they allege that all five conspired and participated in the murders of Butler and Kelley. The hearing is scheduled for later this month.

Five Arrested in Connection to Murder of Kansas Moms Who Vanished While Picking Up Children

As the legal process unfolds, the families of Butler and Kelley are left grappling with the unimaginable loss of their loved ones. The community continues to mourn the tragic end to the lives of two young mothers who were simply trying to pick up their children.