Oklahoma State Police have arrested five suspects accused of killing and kidnapping Butler’s two mothers who went missing while driving to retrieve their children on March 30.
Police arrested and charged the latest suspect, Paul Grice, with kidnapping and murdering two women, Veronica Butler and Gillian Kelly, on Wednesday, KOCO 5 News reported.
According to a press release from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), four suspects were arrested on April 13: Tad Burt Karam, Tiffany Machelle Adams, Cole Earl Twombly, and Cora Twombly. (Related article: “Claim your birthright” Police arrest woman on suspicion of dismembering her mother. Sister blames brother)
The Texas County Sheriff’s Department (TCSD) released photos of the first four defendants on Facebook. OSBI announced that four suspects were “arrested in Texas and Cimarron County.”
On March 30, the sheriff’s office requested “the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate the suspicious disappearances of 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Julian Kelly,” according to a press release. “Their vehicle was found abandoned near Highway 95 and L Road in rural Texas County, south of Elkhart, Kansas. OSBI special agents immediately investigated the vehicle. and determined that there was evidence of wrongdoing,” the OSBI said.
Court records show Adams was involved in a custody battle with Butler, one of the victims, according to the Des Moines Register. reported. Adams’ son is the father of Butler’s two children, the paper said.
The newspaper said Adams was caring for Butler’s children on the day she went missing. Butler reportedly intended to retrieve them in Texas County so her daughter could attend her birthday celebration. Butler’s family began searching for him after he failed to show up, the newspaper reported.
Adams told OSBI that he was home when Butler and Kelly disappeared. The probable cause affidavit alleges that she contacted Butler, only to be told that the young woman would not be picking up the children.
Investigators said Butler rescued Kelly in Kansas and the two went to retrieve the children, the newspaper said.
Authorities discovered the victim’s body in mid-April, KOCO 5 reported. Preliminary reports cited by the media said the victims were killed by multiple sharp force traumas, possibly caused by knives, glass or other blades. According to court documents, the five defendants belong to a group called “God’s Misfits.”
Facebook account titled “God’s Misfits” claimed This organization had nothing to do with the April incident. A person believed to be the leader of the South Carolina group “God’s Misfits”, also known as “Squirrel” said NewsNation his group had no ties to the four people indicted at the time.
“Not my God. … The God I serve condemns such hatred,” he said in April. “I have nothing to do with them.”
According to a report by KOCO 5, a judge has placed a gag order on those involved in the case.
