Documents reveal cause of death for Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley

GUYMON, Okla. (KSNW) — Court documents show for the first time how Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley were killed .

In the State of Oklahoma’s brief in support of Consolidation For Preliminary Hearing, prosecutors lay out what they believe were the roles of each of the five defendants arrested in the deaths of Butler and Kelley in March. Tad Cullum, Tiffany Adams, Cole and Cora Twombly, and Paul Grice were arrested and charged in April.

The document says Grice stabbed Butler to death, cutting his hand badly in the process, while Cullum stabbed and killed Kelley. The women’s bodies were then placed in the freezer and driven to the burial site.

The document alleges Grice tossed the clothing he was wearing when he killed Butler, a stun device, and the murder weapon into the grave. It also says DNA recovered from the clothing contained both his and Butler’s DNA.

It also alleges that Cullum tossed his clothing into the freezer with the bodies and that his and Kelley’s DNA was on the clothing as well. The document also notes that accessories to the knife were also found at Cullum’s home.

The filing alleges that the Twomblys served as lookouts on the day of the murder and confided in their daughter, hoping she would provide them with an alibi. It claims Adams purchased the burner phones, stun devices, yellow straps found around the freezer, and even the pants that Cullum wore and buried with the victims.

The state is arguing that all the defendants should face a preliminary hearing together instead of a separate hearing since they allege that all five conspired and participated in the murders of Butler and Kelley.

Prosecutors’ argument points to state court rulings and a 2023 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court as reasons why the five defendants should face a joint preliminary hearing and trial. Defense for both Cora and Adams have argued that they should face separate preliminary hearings.

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