Cora Twombly waives preliminary hearing in Kansas moms’ deaths

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — One of the suspects charged in connection to the deaths of Veronica Butler and Jillian Kelly has waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

On Tuesday, an Oklahoma judge approved a motion to waive the preliminary hearing for Cora Twombly. Twombly also waived her right to a speedy trial.

Twombly is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the deaths of Butler and Kelly. The two women disappeared in March while they were traveling for a supervised visit of Butler’s children in Texas County, Oklahoma.

Twombly was one of four suspects arrested in April in connection to the Butler and Kelly’s disappearance. Paul Grice, a fifth suspect, was arrested ten days later . He waived his right to a preliminary hearing in September .

Cora Twombly and Paul Grice have their next court date on February 19. The three other defendants, Tifany Adams, Tad Cullum, Cole Twombly have a preliminary hearing Dec. 17.

The three face charges including:

• Two counts of murder in the first degree – deliberate intent
• Conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree – deliberate intent
• Two counts of unlawful removal of a dead body — for allegedly removing both bodies from the original place of death
• Two counts of unlawful desecration of a human corpse — for allegedly disposing of both bodies underground, which impeded the investigation and resulted in the loss of evidence

In addition, Adams faces two counts of child neglect.

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