Southwest
Oklahoma authorities identify bodies of 2 missing Kansas moms who disappeared without a trace
The two bodies that were recovered in rural Texas County in Oklahoma have been identified as the two missing Kansas moms who disappeared without a trace.
On Tuesday, the Office of the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner (OSBI) announced that they had positively identified the two deceased persons from Texas County as 39-year-old Jilian Kelley and 27-year-old Veronica Butler.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones, along with everyone throughout their community,” the department said in a press release.
Butler and Kelley were last seen on March 30 heading to pick up children before their car was found abandoned near the Oklahoma-Kansas border, with foul play suspected, police said.
SUSPECTS CHARGED WITH KILLING KANSAS WOMEN BELONGED TO ANTI-GOVERNMENT ‘GODS MISFITS’ GROUP, AFFIDAVIT SAYS
Veronica Butler, left, and Jilian Kelley were last seen Saturday while driving to pick up children, police say. (Oklahoma Highway Patrol)
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced on April 13 that Tad Bert Cullum, 43, Tifany Machel Adams, 54, Cole Earl Twombly, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, were taken into custody.
‘NO’ CHANCE MISSING KANSAS WOMEN ARE ALIVE, OKLAHOMA INVESTIGATORS SAY
All four of the suspects 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, OSBI said in a news release.
Adams, one of the women arrested, is reportedly the grandmother of Veronica Butler’s children.
Court records revealed that Adams was involved in a custody dispute with Butler’s children. The children’s father is in a rehabilitation facility.
The document said the custody battle involving Butler began in February 2019 “with many hearings and court appearances” and in the weeks leading up to her death, “motions were filed requesting extended visitation for Butler.”
Court records revealed that Veronica Butler was involved in a custody dispute with her children’s paternal grandmother, 54-year-old Tiffany Machel Adams. (Texas County Sheriff’s Office/Oklahoma Highway Patrol/Shutterstock)
Records showed that Butler was allowed supervised visits with her children.
Kelley was the court-ordered supervisor accompanying Butler to pick up her children on the morning of March 30 – the day the two moms disappeared.
The medical examiner will determine the manner of death.
Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
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Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
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