Found Deceased OK, Veronica Butler 27 & Jilian Kelley 39, Vehicle Abandoned, Texas County, 30 Mar 2024 #7 *Arrests*

[Curious Me]

...From what I've learned as a GAL, if abuse is disclosed through a forensic interview, a forensic exam is performed. Why would she want her grandchildren to be potentially subjected to this? Absolutely horrible!

BBM, terrible with acronyms, what is GAL? TA, in general, must be a very convincing woman getting the misfits to do what they did, not to mention convincing a board of fabrications. @Ladyotm, I honestly don't know how far it went. Did they just take TA's word on it? You're right, horrible because I think it was all made up in her own head. She must've had to coach the children at the very least, in case they were asked questions. In essence, to get the children to go along with things, I wonder how much she herself tried to brain wash them or promise them things if they got to stay with her. ​

 

[tlcya]

not the OP but GAL = Guardian Ad Litem. Generally a court appointed advocate for a child or disabled adult.

 

[Rixey]

She stopped at nothing to try to take Veronica's children. She should have been satisfied with a healthy relationship but she wanted them for her own! MOO

I'm trying to understand that if she did speak to the board about supposed abuse of the children, in what capacity would she be doing this where it was ok? and would any statements made "on the record" be part of the board meeting minutes? Could it have been to disclosed potential conflicts of interests (the children being brought to the hospital for exams, etc.).

From what I've learned as a GAL, if abuse is disclosed through a forensic interview, a forensic exam is performed. Why would she want her grandchildren to be potentially subjected to this? Absolutely horrible!

Even though it's a regional hospital it is a really small hospital with 25 beds, no nursery or labor & delivery, etc. In fact on the "meet our doctors" page they list 1 doctor and 3 NPs. Given the relatively small numbers of employees, I don't think TA needed to do anything remotely formal to make sure that her version of the 'facts' were heard by whatever staff members she wanted. I don't think anyone else knowingly did anything wrong, they just accepted what she said and then confirmation bias helped things along.

As for 'conflict of interest', the community seems to be the type where pretty much everyone knows everyone and what would be conflicts of interest elsewhere are just a part of living in a rural community.

Cimarron Memorial Hospital | Oklahoma Hospital

www.cmhok.com

(ebm)

 

[Trino]

Children grow up, What was T Adams thinking? Was she grooming them to take care of her she aged? Why was she so obsessed with these kids?

 

[LetsSolvIt]

Children grow up, What was T Adams thinking? Was she grooming them to take care of her she aged? Why was she so obsessed with these kids?

Obsessed like Donna Adelson.

 

[Curious Me]

not the OP but GAL = Guardian Ad Litem. Generally a court appointed advocate for a child or disabled adult.

Thanks. Another thing I knew, and then forgot.
Was there ever a GAL for the children in this case?

Mom of woman killed in OK panhandle over bitter custody battle files wrongful death suit

The mother of Veronica Butler, one of the two women killed in the Oklahoma panhandle over a bitter custody battle, filed a wrongful death suit against the five

abc7amarillo.com

 

[Seattle1]

Thanks. Another thing I knew, and then forgot.
Was there ever a GAL for the children in this case?

Mom of woman killed in OK panhandle over bitter custody battle files wrongful death suit

The mother of Veronica Butler, one of the two women killed in the Oklahoma panhandle over a bitter custody battle, filed a wrongful death suit against the five

abc7amarillo.com

While I'm sure the Court appointed a GAL for the children upon the death of VB (as their dad, WR, was in court-ordered treatment on this date), I don't believe they had a prior GAL.

I recall WR was granted emergency custody in December 2022 with VB allowed supervised visitation. We know that sometime after December 2022, TA motioned the Court and was granted Intervenor for the minor children (her grandchildren), and was still serving in this role when she murdered their mother. IMO, this was her objective all along -- to remove the children from both her son and VB.

From my notes, VB was scheduled for a "stepped up" visitation hearing on April 17, 2024 where she was requesting unsupervised weekly visits, an overnight weekend, and the child exchange location changed from Four Corners to Elkhart, KS. Also, Cheryl Brune, the party selected by TA and who supervised all prior visits between VB and her children, was subpoenaed to appear at the April hearing and was expected to give a favorable report about the weekly visits she supervised.

Clearly, TA was losing control! Once VB granted unsupervised visitation, it would only be a matter of time before she'd seek and be granted custody. MOO

 

[Trino]

While I'm sure the Court appointed a GAL for the children upon the death of VB (as their dad, WR, was in court-ordered treatment on this date), I don't believe they had a prior GAL.

I recall WR was granted emergency custody in December 2022 with VB allowed supervised visitation. We know that sometime after December 2022, TA motioned the Court and was granted Intervenor for the minor children (her grandchildren), and was still serving in this role when she murdered their mother. IMO, this was her objective all along -- to remove the children from both her son and VB.

From my notes, VB was scheduled for a "stepped up" visitation hearing on April 17, 2024 where she was requesting unsupervised weekly visits, an overnight weekend, and the child exchange location changed from Four Corners to Elkhart, KS. Also, Cheryl Brune, the party selected by TA and who supervised all prior visits between VB and her children, was subpoenaed to appear at the April hearing and was expected to give a favorable report about the weekly visits she supervised.

Clearly, TA was losing control! Once VB granted unsupervised visitation, it would only be a matter of time before she'd seek and be granted custody. MOO

Are the children presently with their dad? Wonder what they're thinking.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 14, 2025

1 year since the murders of Jilian Butler and Veronica Butler

It has been one year since the murders of two Kansas mothers, Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley.

www.newschannel10.com

Today, each defendant is awaiting court to discuss DNA testing, plea deals, and court dates.

Tad Cullum is scheduled to appear in court on April 16, while the other four defendants are set for court on May 14.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 4, 2025

OSBI wants to test evidence in 'custody battle' murders of 2 women for DNA

The DA’s office filed a motion asking for permission to allow OSBI to conduct DNA testing on several pieces of evidence, including:

abc7amarillo.com

Thursday, the District Attorney's Office in Texas County filed a motion asking the court for permission to allow the OSBI to conduct DNA testing on several pieces of evidence, including:

• Ratchet strap handle
• Prong end of taser
• Divets/buttons on taser
• Bloodstain on sock
• Stain on grey hat
• Stain on blue and white hat
• Bloodstain from left Ariat shoe
• Claw hammer head and grip

Attorneys for each of the five defendants have 15 days to file a response. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for May 15.

 

[B4igo2it]

this is one of the most horrific cases I know of, and surprised how few know about it.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 16, 2025

Judge denies Tad Cullum’s motion for recusal in Oklahoma murders

A judge has denied Tad Cullum’s motion for recusal in the murder case of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley.

www.newschannel10.com

15 years ago, in 2010, Judge Parsley was the lawyer for Tifany Adams in a civil case in Cimarron County.

Because of that, Cullum and his attorneys said there is a level of bias and impartiality on Judge Parsley’s part and is asking him to disqualify himself from this case.

https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/judge-denies-new-judge-for-suspect-in-murdered-moms-case/

Tad Cullum’s attorney filed a motion for Judge Jon Parsley to recuse himself because Parsley represented fellow defendant Tifany Adams in an unrelated case. The attorney claims that raises questions about the judge’s ability to be impartial.

On Wednesday, Parsley denied the motion. He said that the representation of Adams in a marriage dissolution case was wrapped up in 2011, and Cullum was not involved in that case.

Co-defendants Adams and Paul Grice were also supposed to appear in court on Wednesday, but their dates were pushed back.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 16, 2025

Judge will not recuse himself from murder case involving 2 women found in buried freezer

A district judge in Texas County, Oklahoma will not recuse himself from the murder case involving two women who were found buried in a freezerJudge Jon Parsley

abc7amarillo.com

Cullum argued rescusals are not limited to situations were a judge harbors "actual bias or hostility towards a party. The appearance of impropriety, a lack of impartiality, or bias is sufficient."

He claimed the judge not stepping down violates his 14th Amendment right to a fair and impartial trial.

In his ruling, Parsley said he reviewed all of the cases cited in the motion, the entire Code of Judicial Conduct, Rule 15 of the Rules for District Court Judges, all the opinions by the Judicial Ethics Advisory Panel, and reviewed additional statutes, court rules, and cases on disqualification and recusal.

He also cited a Oklahoma Supreme Court cases, Pierce vs Pierce, which says a judge is presumed not biased, and a party must "point to some fact to overcome the presumption."

Judge denies motion for recusal in murder case of 2 Kansas mothers

Tad Cullum is one of five people charged with murder in the deaths of Veronica Butler and Jillian Kelley.

www.kwch.com

Cullum and his attorneys have the option to appeal this decision. He and the other four defendants are scheduled to appear in court on May 14 to discuss the consumptive testing of evidence related to the murders of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley.

 

[Trino]

Judge probably should recluse himself. Just giving them reason for appeal if found guilty.

 

[Rixey]

Judge probably should recluse himself. Just giving them reason for appeal if found guilty.

That's what I was thinking. I don't necessarily believe the judge would be biased, but I just don't want to give the defense a good reason to appeal.

Personally I'd be okay with jailhouse justice eliminating the need for a trial altogether, but I certainly would like to avoid the possibility of a an appeal or retrial.

 

[CuriousCricket]

That's what I was thinking. I don't necessarily believe the judge would be biased, but I just don't want to give the defense a good reason to appeal.

Personally I'd be okay with jailhouse justice eliminating the need for a trial altogether, but I certainly would like to avoid the possibility of a an appeal or retrial.

Wonder if this motion is simply TC's attorney planting all the seeds he can for appeals down the road? The evidence appears irrefutable. Maybe it's simply planning for any possible weapon TC can use from death row?

 

[PommyMommy]

All cases are now continued to May 14 at 9:00 AM

ADAMS, TIFANY MACHEL - OSCN Case Details
CULLUM, TAD BERT - OSCN Case Details
TWOMBLY, COLE EARL - OSCN Case Details
TWOMBLY, CORA GAYLE - OSCN Case Details
GRICE, PAUL JEREMIAH - OSCN Case Details

 

[Rixey]

Wonder if this motion is simply TC's attorney planting all the seeds he can for appeals down the road? The evidence appears irrefutable. Maybe it's simply planning for any possible weapon TC can use from death row?

That's my guess. They really have nothing to lose by filing it.

If they win the motion, it delays things and maybe they get a new judge they think would be more favorable, or even a change of venue if other judges have similar 'conflicts'. If they lose the motion they definitely have another reason to appeal.

 

[Rixey]

Yesterday (4/21/25) TC's lawyers did indeed appeal this to the administrative judge

OSCN Case Details

They do not bring up a change of venue per se, but they do request a judge from out of the immediate area, which I guess for a non-jury trial it's essentially the same thing.

And they bring up the recent motion regarding DNA testing. Not sure what could happen there if they are successful with the motion to have Judge Parsley removed.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 30, updated MAY 1, 2025

https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/texas-county/temporary-judge-to-oversee-case-involving-death-of-2-kansas-women/

One of the suspects, Tad Cullum, filed a motion for the original judge to recuse himself. The judge was a lawyer for now-defendant Tifany Adams back in 2010 during a civil case. That motion was denied.

Following an appeal, the motion was denied again on Wednesday. A temporary judge was assigned while the appeals process continues.