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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The pursuit of justice in a chilling double murder case has intensified, as an Oklahoma prosecutor announced intentions to seek the death penalty against two individuals accused of a heinous crime. Cole Twombly and Tad Cullum are facing the most severe consequences for their alleged involvement in the deaths of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, according to documents filed by Texas County District Attorney George H. Leach III on Thursday.
The charges against Twombly and Cullum arise from an incident that also implicated three others, bringing the total number of suspects to five. The arrests, which took place in 2024, included Tifany Adams, the grandmother of Butler’s two children, along with Cora Twombly and Paul Grice, all of whom are connected to the tragic events.
In a related development, Tifany Adams made headlines last week when she entered a no-contest plea to several grave charges. Adams conceded to two counts each of first-degree murder, unlawful removal of a dead body, and unlawful desecration of a human corpse, marking a significant turn in the legal proceedings.
Last week, Adams pleaded no contest to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of unlawful removal of a dead body and two counts of unlawful desecration of a human corpse.
Butler and Kelley disappeared on March 30, 2024. Kelley was accompanying Butler for a visitation with her two children, who were in Adams’ custody.
In his filing seeking the death penalty, Leach argues that Cullum and Cole Twombly were aware of the risk of the death of more than one person due to the planned ambush of the women; that the murders of Butler and Kelley were especially heinous, atrocious or cruel because of the manner in which they were attacked and killed; and that Kelley was murdered specifically because she would be a witness to Butler’s death.
He also argues that the fact the homicides were planned out over a period of eight weeks, the measures taken to conceal or destroy evidence, the totality of evidence and heinous nature of the crimes show that both men are a danger to society.
Twombly and Cullum, along with the two remaining defendants, are scheduled for arraignment on Nov. 5.