The news of the day shook the small town as the four suspects faced the consequences of their alleged crimes. The court records revealed a chilling statement from one of the accused, pointing towards their involvement in the murders of two Kansas women in Oklahoma.
Denial of bond for Tifany Adams, Tad Cullum, Cole Twombly, and Cora Twombly came as no surprise, considering the severity of the charges against them - two counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder.
Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, met a tragic fate on March 30, disappearing while en route to pick up Butler's children from a birthday celebration. The community mourned their loss as the suspects stood trial.
The prosecution's motion to keep the suspects behind bars highlighted Adams' recorded statement, a chilling confession of her involvement in the deaths. The affidavit painted a picture of a well-resourced group capable of orchestrating such a heinous crime and potentially fleeing if granted bail.
As the courtroom drama unfolded, family members of the victims gathered to face the accused, seeking justice for the lives lost in such a senseless act.
Bryson Butler, Veronica Butler's younger brother, expressed his desire for justice, stating, "I just hope justice is served."
"How can you hate somebody so much that you want to kill them? How can you hate the mother of your grandchildren so much that you want to end her life?" Butler's aunt questioned, reflecting on the tragic events.
Adams, the paternal grandmother of Butler's children, had been involved in a custody dispute with Butler before her untimely death. At the time of her disappearance, Butler was only permitted supervised visits with her children on Saturdays, with Kelley acting as the supervisor on that fateful day, as per an affidavit.
The abandoned car that the two women were traveling in was discovered on the side of the road in late March. Subsequent evidence, including blood and a broken hammer found in close proximity, led authorities to suspect foul play in their disappearance.
Butler and Kelley remained missing for two weeks until their bodies were located on April 14, a day after the arrest of the four suspects. According to an affidavit, their bodies were found on property leased by Cullum, with a stun gun also recovered at the scene.
Authorities have stated that data retrieved from Adams' phone indicated that she had searched for information on "taser pain level, gun shops, prepaid cellular phones, and how to get someone out of their house," as per the affidavit.
The authorities also revealed that all four individuals involved are part of an anti-government group known as "God's Misfits," which held regular meetings at the Twomblys' residence and other undisclosed locations. The group had reportedly made previous attempts to harm Butler, including trying to entice her out of her Kansas home, as per a teenage witness who cooperated with the investigation.
It is believed by authorities that Adams carried out the murder of Butler due to her opposition to the possibility of Butler obtaining unsupervised visits with her children, which was set to be discussed in a hearing scheduled for April 17.
An affidavit stated, "Adams vehemently opposed this and went to great lengths to plan and purchase items used in Butler and Kelley's murder."
