OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – A small-town Oklahoma political figure has been arrested alongside three others in the alleged brutal killings of two Kansas women, sparking shock and grief in communities across the region. Tifany Adams, who once chaired the Republican Party in Cimarron County, and her co-defendants have been charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy in the deaths of Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39.
The tragic chain of events began to unfold on March 30 when Adams and her accomplices reportedly ambushed Butler and Kelley as the women were en route to pick up Butler’s children from a court-mandated visitation. It’s reported that Adams, the children’s paternal grandmother, was deeply embroiled in a custody dispute with Butler at the time. After a two-week search, authorities found the victims’ bodies in a remote area of Texas County.
Sources close to the investigation reveal that Adams, along with 43-year-old Tad Bert Cullum, 44-year-old Cora Twombly, and her husband, 50-year-old Cole Earl Twombly, belonged to a group known as “God’s Misfits.” Described as anti-government, the group allegedly held regular meetings at each other’s homes.
State Sen. Nathan Dahm, who is also the chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, released a statement sharing condolences with the victims’ families and expressing surprise over the incident involving someone previously elected to a political role in the local community. Cimarron County, known for its modest population, is now at the center of a case that has attracted widespread attention.
Butler’s friends have recounted her intense struggle for custody of her children and her hopeful anticipation of a favorable court ruling. Her journey with Kelley, who stepped in as a court-approved supervisor for the children’s visitation due to the absence of the regular supervisor, was meant to be a simple trip to see her children and celebrate a birthday; instead, it resulted in a harrowing crime scene discovery by Butler’s family members.
According to the affidavit, the investigation swiftly turned its attention to Adams, who was deeply embroiled in the custody battle. Evidence suggested that Adams and her co-conspirators had allegedly plotted the murders and executed a kidnapping on the fateful day. Officials uncovered disturbing plans and communications among the accused, including recordings in which death threats were made against Butler.
Local law enforcement agencies, bolstered by the expertise of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), pieced together a narrative that included a teenage family member of the Twomblys disclosing the group’s apparent involvement in the crimes. This information, supported by data from burner phones used by the perpetrators and the discovery of the victims’ bodies, has culminated in the arrests of Adams, Cullum, and the Twombly couple.
The legal proceedings and comprehensive investigations are ongoing as the small Oklahoma community mourns the senseless loss of life and awaits justice for Butler and Kelley.
