Suspect in Kansas Mothers’ Murder Case Bound Over for Trial Following Preliminary Hearing
TEXAS COUNTY, Okla. — The preliminary hearing for Tad Cullum, the final suspect in the murder case of two Kansas mothers, concluded on Wednesday with the judge ruling that sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial.
Preliminary hearings serve as a forum for prosecutors to present evidence and for judges to determine whether cases should advance to trial. This week’s hearings involved three of the five suspects: Tifany Adams, Cole Twombly, and Tad Cullum.
The proceedings began with Adams, Cullum, and Twombly arriving at the Texas County Courthouse in handcuffs, escorted by law enforcement. The remaining two suspects, Cora Twombly and Paul Grice, had previously waived their preliminary hearings but were brought to testify.
Testimonies Reveal Group Dynamics and Events Leading to Murders
Grice and Cora Twombly, under plea agreements, provided detailed testimonies about the group known as “God’s Misfits,” its origins, and the events leading to the murders of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley. The two women, from Hugoton, Kansas, disappeared in March while traveling to pick up Butler’s children. Their bodies were discovered in April, buried in a freezer on a rural Oklahoma property. Autopsies confirmed both had been stabbed to death.
Grice testified that “God’s Misfits” initially began as a religious group that evolved into a smaller faction involving Adams, Cullum, Cora Twombly, and himself. Allegations of child abuse involving Butler’s family reportedly fueled the group’s discussions, which eventually turned into a plot to murder Butler.
Cora Twombly described her role as a lookout during the killings. She testified that Adams and Cullum orchestrated the plan, motivated by Adams’ custody battle over her grandchildren. Grice, who admitted to stabbing both Butler and Kelley, detailed his involvement and described how Adams manipulated him using out-of-context Bible verses.
Grice revealed that after Butler was killed, Kelley, who was aiding Butler as a court-appointed supervisor, was also targeted because of her association with Butler.
Evidence and New Developments
Key evidence included prepaid phones purchased by Adams that last transmitted signals near the Twombly home and the property where the bodies were found. Cora Twombly disclosed that two phones, along with stun guns, were used in the crime and later destroyed in an incinerator.
Grice admitted his actions during the murders, explaining that he panicked when Kelley appeared to regain consciousness in the back of a trailer. He confessed to stabbing her to ensure she would not be buried alive.
Suspects Waive Hearings, Await Trial
Adams and Cole Twombly waived their preliminary hearings, with Adams scheduled to appear in court in April and Twombly in May. Cullum’s attorneys cross-examined Grice, challenging his narrative and attempting to shift responsibility for Kelley’s death entirely onto Grice.
Property Owner’s Testimony
Jamie Beasley, the owner of the property where the bodies were buried, testified that Adams and Cullum had visited the day before the murders. They sought permission to dig a hole, ostensibly for burying trees and concrete. Beasley expressed regret for not reporting his suspicions to law enforcement earlier.
Family Reaction
During court breaks, Butler’s family expressed frustration over Cullum’s defense strategy, which sought to pin both murders on Grice. The family also stated their opposition to seeking the death penalty, calling it an “easy way out.”
Charges Against the Suspects
Adams, Cullum, and Cole Twombly face charges of first-degree murder with deliberate intent, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful removal of a dead body, and unlawful desecration of a human corpse. Adams also faces additional charges of child neglect.
The case, marked by disturbing details of manipulation, betrayal, and violence, continues to unfold as the suspects await their next court appearances.
