Four people were arrested and charged in connection to the disappearance of two Kansas moms who were last seen driving through the Oklahoma panhandle last month — including the grandmother of one of the women’s children.
Tad Bert Cullum, 43, Tifany Machel Adams, 54, Cole Earl Twombly, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, were taken into custody on Saturday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced.
The four were suspected of kidnapping and murdering Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, before they vanished on March 30.
The two women were considered acquaintances, as Kelley supervised Butler’s visits with her children
The moms were traveling to Eva, Okla. to pick up Butler’s children who have been living with their paternal grandfather, according to NewsNation.
Veronica Butler was traveling with Kelley to pick up her two children in Oklahoma. News Nation
Jilian Kelley was suspected of traveling with Butler to help her with a custody issue, sources familiar with the matter. News Nation
They were only reported missing when the car they were driving was found 1,000 feet off Oklahoma State Highway 95, approximately 3 miles away from its destination, on March 30.
All four suspects were charged with two counts of First-Degree Murder, two counts of Kidnapping, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the First Degree.
They were later booked into the Texas County Jail.
Tifany Machel Adams is the grandmother of Butler’s children. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
Tad Bert Cullum is the boyfriend of Adams. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
The mother’s abandoned vehicle was found in a rural part of Texas County, Oklahoma off Highway 95. KSN TVAdams is the grandmother of Butler’s children, and Cullum is her boyfriend, according to NewsNation.
Cole and Cora Twombly have been in an eight-year relationship and are friends with Adams on Facebook.
Several law enforcement agencies were at properties in Cimmaron and Texas Counties on Saturday, including at Adams’ home.
One person was arrested in Cimmaron County while the other three were nabbed in Texas County.
Butler and Kelley have yet to be found as police suspected foul play was a factor a role in the two disappearances.
Separate puddles of blood were found outside the vehicle along with splatters of blood inside, the outlet reported, citing sources.
Butler was in the middle of a bitter custody battle with the father of her children, seeking more visitation time, as she sought full custody of the children.
Cora Twombly was among the four arrested on Saturday in Oklahoma. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
Cole Earl Twombly and the other three were charged with two counts of First-Degree Murder, two counts of Kidnapping, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the First Degree. Oklahoma State Bureau of InvestigationButler’s pursuit of full custody created tension between her and Adams, the children’s paternal grandmother, according to NewsNation.
Adams is said to have had custody of the children at the time of Butler’s disappearance, KFOR reported.
With Post wires
