WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Two suspects in the slayings of two Kansas mothers entered pleas Wednesday in an Oklahoma courtroom.
Tad Cullum pleaded not guilty in Texas County in the deaths of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley.
Cole Twombly did not say anything when asked for his plea, so the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
They are each charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of unlawful removal of a dead body and two counts of unlawful desecration of a human corpse.
KSN’s Julia Thatcher was in the courtroom. She talked to Butler’s mom after court got ou,t who said the best way people can honor the memories of these two Christian women is to pray for those involved for redemption, forgiveness and salvation.
Butler and Kelley disappeared on Easter weekend of 2024. They were traveling from Hugoton to Oklahoma, where Kelley was supposed to supervise Butler’s visit with her children.
Their bodies were found two weeks later in a chest freezer, which was buried under a concrete slab in a field in Texas County, Oklahoma. Autopsies revealed that both women were stabbed to death, authorities said.
Court documents allege that the women were killed over a custody dispute involving Butler’s children.
Tiffany Adams — the grandmother of the children — pleaded no contest last month 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.
Her sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 28.
The other two defendants — Cora Twombly and Paul Grice, who have taken plea deals — also appeared in court Wednesday for procedural hearings.
The judge agreed to let the attorneys for Adams, Cullum and Cole Twombly have access to all five defendants’ jail phone calls and text messages.
In another ruling Wednesday, the judge ordered some items to be returned to the victims’ families, including Kelley’s wedding ring and Butler’s car.
Cullum’s trial is set for June 1, and Cole Twombly’s is scheduled for Oct. 19.
The district attorney is seeking the death penalty against both of them.