Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley murder case: Suspect purchased stun guns before Kansas moms went missing

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

WICHITA, KANSAS: A member of the 'God's Misfits' group, arrested in the murder case of Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 38, purchased stun guns and conducted alarming online search days ahead of the murders.

Grandmother Tifany Machel Adams, 54, her boyfriend, Tad Bert Cullum, 43, married couple Cole and Cora Twombly, and Paul Grice, 31, all face two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of the two Kansas mothers.

Court documents reveal a series of searches conducted by the grandmother, including phrases like "taser pain level," ahead of the preplanned attack. 

Additionally, records indicate Adams purchased multiple stun guns just days before the tragic events unfolded.

Bodies of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley were discovered on April 14

This latest development comes after the disappearance of Butler and Kelley on March 30, while they were en route from Kansas to retrieve the former's children from a birthday celebration in Oklahoma.

Their bodies were discovered on April 14, following their last sighting together in a vehicle that was subsequently found abandoned by the highway in a remote area of Texas County with "evidence in and around the vehicle that indicated a severe injury," including blood traces on the road and Butler's spectacles lying beside a fractured hammer.

The motive behind the heinous act is said to stem from Butler's contentious divorce and custody battle of two children, worsened by Adams' refusal to grant the former more time with her children.

Further evidence, including testimonies from witnesses and digital trails, implicates the accused individuals in the planning and execution of the murders.

Insights into Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley's murder investigation

Investigators reported discovering a pistol magazine inside Kelley's purse at the scene; however, the firearm itself was nowhere to be found, as stated in a probable cause affidavit obtained by Fox News.

Utilizing interviews with the Twombly's 16-year-old and an examination of Adams' phone records, along with data from three burner phones, authorities located the women's bodies on April 14 in a cow pasture leased by Cullum.

Adams informed law enforcement that Butler and Rickman's children were spending the night with family friends on March 29 and claimed that the former had canceled her visitation with the children on the morning of March 30.

However, Butler's phone records contradicted this, indicating her intention to pick up Kelley for the visit. She was noted as Butler's preferred supervisor for visitations and was expected to accompany her.

Rickman's grandmother, Debi Knox-Davis, relayed to authorities that the father of the children expressed confidence that their family's custody battle with Butler would soon be resolved. According to court documents, he informed her that Adams was familiar with the judge's route to work and planned to "take out Veronica at drop off."

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) obtained a warrant to search Adams' phone on April 1, revealing searches including terms like "taser pain level," gun shops, prepaid cellular phones, and "how to get someone out of [your] house."

Moreover, the investigation disclosed Adams' purchase of five stun guns from local gun shops on March 23.

Twombly couple's daughter reveals sinister murder plot

On April 3, the Twombly couple's daughter allegedly informed authorities that her parents, Adams, and Cullum were responsible for Butler and Kelley's deaths. She claimed the grandmother provided burner phones to facilitate discreet communication about their plans.

Prior to their disappearance on March 30, the 16-year-old reportedly overheard discussions among the suspects regarding how Butler [was] not protecting her children from her brother ... in reference to a sexual abuse allegation."

According to court documents, the 16-year-old stated that her parents assured her they would no longer need to worry about Butler and speculated that the victims might have been disposed of in a well. 

"[The 16-year-old] asked why [Kelley] had to die and was told by Cora that [Kelley] wasn't innocent either, as she had supported Butler," penned the investigators.

The initial plan, as conveyed to the 16-year-old, involved "throwing an anvil through Butler's windshield while driving, making it look like an accident because anvils regularly fall off work vehicles."

Subsequently, OSBI investigators uncovered records of Adams purchasing the three prepaid cell phones.

Tracing their locations led detectives to "fresh dirt work" covered with hay, where the victims' bodies were discovered. "This case is tragic," remarked OSBI spokesperson Hunter McKee, reflecting, "You have two people who are dead and four people who committed an absolutely brutal crime."