CRIME, POLICE + COURTS

4 people are facing murder charges in Oklahoma as authorities search for 2 missing women

Apr 14, 2024, 5:00 PM

Jilian Kelley and Veronica Butler were driving with one another to pick up children, according to t...

Jilian Kelley and Veronica Butler were driving with one another to pick up children, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. ( Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation via CNN Newsource)

( Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation via CNN Newsource)

Originally Published: 14 APR 24 15:25 ET
(CNN) — Four people have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the disappearance of two women who went missing last month while travelling through rural Oklahoma to pick up children, authorities said.

The missing women, 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley were driving together but never made it to the pickup location, the Texas County Sheriff’s Department said in an “endangered missing advisory” posted March 30.

Authorities arrested 43-year-old Tad Bert Cullum, 54-year-old Tifany Machel Adams, 50-year-old Cole Earl Twombly and 44-year-old Cora Twombly in Texas and Cimarron counties Saturday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.

“All four individuals were booked into the Texas County Jail on two counts of First-Degree Murder, two counts of Kidnapping, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the First Degree,” the release said.

The car Butler and Kelley were travelling in was found abandoned near Highway 95 south of the Kansas and Oklahoma border in rural Texas County, the agency said

Agents investigated the vehicle and found evidence of foul play, the bureau said.

CNN has reached out to police for information regarding any relationship between the suspects and the missing women.

Oklahoma court records do not show charges filed against any of the suspects and their names have not been entered into the state’s inmate database. It’s unclear if they have legal representation or have made an initial court appearance.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Keep reading: An Oklahoma judge was accused of sending over 500 texts during a murder trial. Now she’s stepping down

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Crime, Police + Courts

fencing around Utah State Correctional Facility, utah requests execution of death row inmate...

Clayre Scott

Utah requests execution of death row inmate

Utah death row inmate Taberon Honie was convicted of the murder of his ex-girlfriend's mother in 1999.

29 minutes ago

A white sign reads Mt. Nebo Middle School...

LAUREN STEINBRECHER

Parents frustrated after Mt. Nebo Middle School evacuated after third threat in two weeks

Parents are frustrated after Mt. Nebo Middle School was evacuated for the third time in two weeks.

10 hours ago

Various angles of the Ada County courtroom are shown via livestream during Chad Daybell's murder tr...

Emily Ashcraft, KSL.com

Key testimony so far from witnesses in Chad Daybell trial

The jurors of Chad Daybell in his murder trial have heard testimony from prosecution witnesses over 13 days.

20 hours ago

FILE PHOTO (Weber School District)...

Mary Culbertson, KSLTV.com

Four students at Roy High School taken into custody after allegedly brandishing handgun

Four juvenile students were taken into custody Tuesday after police said a community member reported them flashing gang signs and brandishing a gun near Roy High School.

1 day ago

Marijuana grows at Tryke Companies Utah's medical cannabis cultivation facility in Tooele, us moves...

ZEKE MILLER, JOSHUA GOODMAN, JIM MUSTIAN and LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Associated Press

US drug control agency will move to reclassify marijuana in a historic shift, AP sources say

The DEA's move to reclassify marijuana would not legalize it outright for recreational use.

1 day ago

Protests University of Utah result in 17 arrested...

Amie Schaeffer

19 arrested at University of Utah during Gaza war protests

Multiple agencies responded to protests over the Gaza war at the University of Utah Monday night resulting in 17 arrested.

1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

a doctor putting her hand on the chest of her patient...

Intermountain Health

Intermountain nurse-midwives launch new gynecology access clinic

An access clinic launched by Intermountain nurse-midwives provides women with comprehensive gynecology care.

Young couple hugging while a realtor in a suit hands them keys in a new home...

Utah Association of Realtors

Buying a home this spring? Avoid these 5 costly pitfalls

By avoiding these pitfalls when buying a home this spring, you can ensure your investment will be long-lasting and secure.

a person dressed up as a nordic viking in a dragon boat resembling the bear lake monster...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Legend of the Bear Lake Monster

The Bear Lake monster has captivated people in the region for centuries, with tales that range from the believable to the bizarre.

...

Live Nation Concerts

All the artists coming to Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre (formerly USANA Amp) this summer

Summer concerts are more than just entertainment; they’re a celebration of life, love, and connection.

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

4 people are facing murder charges in Oklahoma as authorities search for 2 missing women