The legal proceedings continue in the high-profile murder case involving Kansas mothers Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, who were found dead in Oklahoma in 2024. Prosecutors in Texas County recently filed dozens of new court documents connected to one of the suspects, Tad Cullum, as the case moves closer toward trial.
Prosecutors Respond to Defense Motions
This week, the Texas County District Attorney’s Office filed 40 separate court documents, including eight motions and 32 responses tied to requests from attorneys representing Tad Cullum.
One of Cullum’s motions asked the court to rule the death penalty unconstitutional, arguing it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Prosecutors strongly opposed that request, stating the claim lacks both factual and legal support and should be denied.
Cullum is among several suspects charged in connection with the killings of Butler and Kelley, and prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty if he is convicted.
Plea Agreements Revealed for Co-Defendants
Court filings also revealed details about plea agreements involving two other suspects in the case.
According to prosecutors, suspect Paul Grice has agreed to cooperate with the state and testify truthfully in court. In exchange, prosecutors will no longer seek the death penalty against him.
Instead, the state plans to recommend:
- Two life sentences without parole for first-degree murder charges
- Maximum possible sentences for additional crimes connected to the case
Another suspect, Cora Twombly, also reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. Under her deal:
- She avoids the death penalty
- Prosecutors will recommend a life sentence
- She would become eligible for parole after 30 years
Both agreements still require approval from a judge before becoming final.
Trials Scheduled for Remaining Defendants
The remaining defendants continue preparing for trial as the investigation and court process move forward.
According to court records:
- Cole Twombly is scheduled to stand trial in February
- Tad Cullum’s trial is currently set for October
The case remains one of the most closely followed criminal prosecutions in the region because of the shocking nature of the crimes and the number of defendants involved.
Background on the 2024 Murders
Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley disappeared on March 30, 2024, after traveling from Hugoton to Oklahoma to pick up Butler’s children from their paternal grandmother, Tifany Adams.
Days later, authorities discovered the women’s abandoned vehicle along Oklahoma Highway 95 south of Elkhart.
Less than two weeks after the women vanished, investigators found their bodies buried in a field inside a chest freezer. Autopsies later confirmed both women had been stabbed to death.
The following month, five people were arrested in connection with the murders:
- Tifany Adams
- Tad Cullum
- Paul Grice
- Cora Twombly
- Cole Twombly
Adams later pleaded no contest and was sentenced to life in prison.
Case Continues to Draw National Attention
The killings shocked communities across Kansas and Oklahoma, especially because the victims were mothers involved in an ongoing custody dispute connected to Butler’s children.
As the remaining suspects move through the court system, prosecutors continue preparing for lengthy trials that could include testimony from cooperating defendants and potentially involve the death penalty for some of those accused.
The murder case involving Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley continues to evolve as prosecutors negotiate plea deals while preparing for multiple trials. With new filings, cooperation agreements, and death penalty challenges now emerging, the coming months are expected to play a major role in determining how justice unfolds in one of the region’s most disturbing criminal cases.
