4 charged with murder and kidnapping of Kansas women in Oklahoma
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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) - The four people accused in the murder and kidnapping of two Kansas women made their initial court appearance on a Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in Texas County, Oklahoma. KSN's Julia Thatcher was in the courtroom. She described the scene in court as very emotional.
Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, of Hugoton, disappeared on March 30 while driving to pick up Butler's children. The bodies of the women were found on Sunday, April 14, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation confirmed on Tuesday that the bodies were the two women. The medical examiner hasn't released a report on how they were killed.
The charges against Tiffany Adams, 54, the grandmother of Butler's children, Tad Cullum and Cole and Cora Twombly, were read in court.
They are each charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to commit murder.
Arrest affidavits on the four were released on Monday. The documents reveal that Adams was involved in a custody dispute with Butler. All four suspects were reportedly involved in an anti-government group called "God's Misfits."
The judge ordered the four suspects to be held without bond, citing that "proof of evidence or presumption of guilt is great."
The district attorney said he has not decided yet if he will pursue the death penalty against the suspects.
Adams, Cullum, and Cole Twombly will hire their attorneys. Cora Twombly said she cannot afford an attorney, so the court will appoint one to represent her.
The next court appearance in the case is May 15 at 9 a.m.
EMOTIONS IN COURTROOM
KSN's Julia Thatcher said the victims' family members were weeping, hugging each other, even deputies. Butler's father had to be physically restrained as each suspect walked through the courtroom doors.
"I watched a bailiff try to reason with him to be quiet, whispering the word 'please' just loud enough that I could hear it from a few rows up," Thatcher said.
She said Butler's father closed his eyes as the murder charge was read aloud.
Butler's aunt, LaDonna Thompson, said she is confused about the custody battle being the alleged motive for the killings.
"How can you hate the mother of your grandchildren so much that you want to end her life?" she said.
As for the four suspected of murdering her niece, she added, "They deserve to rot and burn in the depths of hell for all I care."
Thompson added her niece "would do anything for anybody" and continued by saying, "Our family lost a beautiful, beautiful young lady that will forever be loved and missed, and I don't know how, I don't know how we are supposed to make two children live the rest of their lives without their beautiful mom."
COURT SECURITY
Security during Wednesday's first appearance at the Texas County Courthouse was tight. A security drone flew over the courthouse while deputies used a metal-detecting wand to check people entering the building.
"We just took those extra precautions to not allow any electronic in the courtroom or the courthouse. We closed down the courthouse for that little bit of the hearing, and we weren't allowing bags or cellphones or anything out of the ordinary," Sheriff Matt Boley, Texas County, said.
As for the four suspects, all were wearing bulletproof vests.
"It will be specific to this investigation due to the emotions that are running high in the county right now and the adjoining state. You know, we don't want to take any chances," Boley said.
Boley said to expect a large law enforcement presence at every court hearing involving the four suspects.