Four people have been arrested after a large SWAT raid in Oklahoma for the kidnapping and murder of a Kansas mother and her friend, who disappeared while on their way to pick up their children.
A convoy of 20 police vehicles, including SWAT trucks, was seen traveling quickly down a dirt road in the Oklahoma Territory on Saturday.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced the arrests shortly after, saying there was evidence indicating foul play.
Among the four people arrested were Tifany Adams, 54, the children’s grandmother, and Adams’ boyfriend, Tad Cullum, 43, according to NewsNation.
The other two arrested, Cole Twombly, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, have a partner of eight years. They are friends with Adams on Facebook.
Four people have been arrested after a large SWAT raid in Oklahoma for the kidnapping and murder of a Kansas mother and her friend, who disappeared while on their way to pick up their children. Among those arrested were Tifany Adams (left), 54, Butler’s mother-in-law, and Adams’ boyfriend, Tad Cullum (right), 43.
The other two detainees, Cole Twombly (right), 50, and Cora Twombly (left), 44, have a partner of eight years. They are friends with Adams on Facebook.
Veronica Butler, 27, is currently involved in a nasty custody battle with her husband, Wrangler Cole Rickman.
Kelley, described more as an acquaintance than a friend of Butler, is the wife of a pastor who is said to supervise Butler’s visits to his children.
The 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, were traveling together to pick up Butler’s children, ages 6 and 8, on March 30.
They are believed to have been shot and left pools of blood on the ground next to their empty car, about 1,000 feet from Oklahoma State Highway 95.
The children were reportedly staying with their grandmother, Adams, while Butler goes through a nasty divorce and custody battle with her husband, Wrangler Cole Rickman.
Kelley, described more as an acquaintance than a friend of Butler, is the wife of a pastor who is said to supervise Butler’s visits to his children.
On March 20, ten days before her disappearance, Butler filed a petition with the court that would grant her more time with her children, with her goal being full custody.
Court documents claimed Butler and the children’s grandmother, Adams, did not get along amid the custody battle.
Butler has weekly, court-ordered visits every Saturday with the children, and Kelley is one of four people listed as supervising those visits.
A massive convoy of SWAT trucks and police cars rolls through rural Oklahoma on Saturday. Authorities announced the arrests shortly after.
Multiple pools of blood were found near the vehicle in the desolate Oklahoma panhandle, which was found 1,000 feet off Oklahoma State Highway 95, near a school Butler attended and graduated from in 2015.
Butler and Kelley were traveling 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 the birthday of Butler’s six-year-old daughter.
they had done the 45-minute drive from Hugoton to a gas station in Eva, located near the Four Corners section of Oklahoma, but disappeared and the car was found just three miles from where they were supposed to meet.
Multiple pools of blood were found near the vehicle in the desolate Oklahoma panhandle, which was found 1,000 feet off 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 thank everyone who has shared prayer requests. We are receiving messages from all over the country from people praying for these two women and their families.’
The First Christian Church of Hugoton has also offered prayers on Facebook, while friends and family have started a meal train page for Kelley’s family.
“It’s been over a week,” Hunter McKee, public information director for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, said Tuesday, according to Fox News.
“We’re hoping we can find them alive, but obviously it’s getting more difficult.”
Court documents claimed Butler and the children’s grandmother did not get along amid the ugly battle.
The endangered missing persons pamphlet listing details about the women’s disappearance
Butler is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, with red hair and green eyes. He has several tattoos, including a Chinese symbol on his left forearm and a sunflower on his left shoulder.
She was dressed in a blue short-sleeved shirt, jean shorts, and light Hey Dudes brand shoes.
Kelley, who is also from Hugoton, Kansas, was last seen Saturday with Butler.
The blue-eyed woman appears in the Missing Person brochure with blonde hair, but her hair color is now brown and she has a butterfly tattoo on her left forearm.
He 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 authorities are still working to locate the two victims.