PHOTO: Mother-in-law, her boyfriend and two others arrested in a major Oklahoma SWAT raid over the kidnapping and murder of a Kansas mother and her friend who disappeared on their way to pick up their children
Four people have been arrested following a major Oklahoma SWAT raid over the kidnapping and killing of a Kansas mother and her friend who disappeared while on their way to pick up her children.
A convoy of 20 police vehicles, including SWAT trucks, was seen speeding along a dirt road in the Oklahoma panhandle on Saturday.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced the arrests shortly after, saying there was evidence to suggest foul play.
Among the four people arrested are Tifany Adams, 54, the children’s grandmother, and Adams’ boyfriend, Tad Cullum, 43, according to NewsNation.
The two other people arrested, Cole Twombly, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, are a couple of eight years. They are friends with Adams on Facebook.
Four people have been arrested following a major Oklahoma SWAT raid over the kidnapping and killing of a Kansas mother and her friend who disappeared while on their way to pick up her children. Among those arrested are Tifany Adams (left), 54, Butler’s mother-in-law, and Adams’ boyfriend, Tad Cullum (right), 43
The two other people arrested, Cole Twombly (right), 50, and Cora Twombly (left), 44, are a couple of eight years. They are friends with Adams on Facebook
Veronica Butler, 27, is currently embroiled in a nasty custody battle with her husband, Wrangler Cole Rickman
Kelley, described as more of an acquaintance than a friend of Butler’s, is a pastor’s wife who is said to oversee Butler’s visits with his children
All four individuals were booked into the Texas County Jail on two counts of first degree murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder
Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, traveled together to pick up Butler’s children, ages 6 and 8, on March 30.
They were believed to have been shot with pools of blood left on the ground next to their empty car about 1,000 feet off Oklahoma State Highway 95.
The children were reportedly living with their grandmother, Adams, as Butler is going through a nasty divorce and custody battle with her husband, Wrangler Cole Rickman.
Kelley, described as more of an acquaintance than a friend of Butler, is a pastor’s wife who is said to oversee Butler’s visits with his children.
On March 20, ten days before they disappeared, Butler filed a petition in court that would allow her more time with her children, with her goal of full custody.
The lawsuits claimed Butler and the children’s grandmother, Adams, did not get along amid the custody battle.
Butler has weekly, court-mandated visits every Saturday with the children, with Kelley one of four people listed as supervisors for those visits.
A massive convoy of SWAT trucks and police cars is driving through rural Oklahoma on Saturday. Authorities announced the arrests shortly after
Several pools of blood were found near the vehicle in the desolate Oklahoma panhandle, which was found 1,000 feet from Oklahoma State Highway 95, near a school Butler attended and graduated from in 2015
Butler and Kelley traveled together to pick up Kelley’s children, ages 6 and 8, on March 30
Kelley is the wife of Pastor Heath Kelley, who serves two churches in Kansas and Nebraska
ABC 7 reported that the visit was also intended to celebrate Butler’s six-year-old daughter’s birthday.
they had made the 45 minute drive from Hugoton to a gas station in Eva, located near the Four Corners section of Oklahoma, but disappeared, with the car found only three miles from where they were supposed to meet.
Several pools of blood were found near the vehicle in the desolate Oklahoma panhandle, which was found 1,000 feet from Oklahoma State Highway 95, near a school Butler attended and graduated from in 2015.
Kelley is the wife of Pastor Heath Kelley, who serves two churches in Kansas and Nebraska.
On April 3, Kelley’s Willow Christian Church in Nebraska posted on Facebook: ‘We ask that you continue to pray for Jilian and Veronica and their families as the search and investigation continues.’
‘Pray for strength, wisdom and faith for all involved. We appreciate everyone who has shared the prayers. We are getting messages from all over the country of people praying for these two women and their families.’
Hugoton First Christian Church has also offered prayers on Facebook, while friends and family have started one Meal train page for Kelley’s family.
“It’s more than a week,” Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s Public Information Manager Hunter McKee said Tuesday, according to the report Fox News.
‘We hope that we can find them alive, but of course it will become more and more challenging.’
The lawsuits claimed Butler and the children’s grandmother did not get along amid the nasty fight
The endangered missing flyer detailing the women’s disappearance
Butler is described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall with red hair and green eyes. She has several tattoos, including a Chinese symbol on her left forearm and a sunflower on her left shoulder.
She was dressed in a blue short-sleeved shirt, denim shorts and light shoes by the brand Hey Dudes.
Kelley, who is also from Hugoton, Kansas, was last seen Saturday with Butler.
The blue-eyed woman is pictured in the Missing person flyer with blonde hair, but her hair color is now brown and has a butterfly tattoo on her left forearm.
She is believed to be wearing a long-sleeved shirt, whitewashed blue jeans and tan beige shoes.
The case remains under investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the FBI.
Local law enforcement agencies are still working to locate the two victims.