A judge in Texas County has ordered the immediate release of the autopsy report for Veronica Butler, one of the victims in a double homicide that occurred in Oklahoma last March. The decision, made during a hearing in Guymon on November 20, followed the accidental public release of Jilian Kelley’s autopsy report earlier in November due to a scheduling error by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s office.
The bodies of Kelley, 39, and Butler, 27, were discovered in a freezer buried deep in a field near Texhoma, Oklahoma, after the women went missing in late March. The freezer containing their remains was transported to Oklahoma City, where the autopsies were conducted. According to the Medical Examiner’s report, both women died quickly due to the nature of their injuries, and both deaths were ruled as homicides.
The Murders and Investigation
Kelley and Butler were last seen on March 30, 2024, as they were traveling to an abandoned gas station in Eva, Oklahoma, for a child custody exchange. Kelley, a court-appointed liaison for Butler, was accompanying her for the exchange. Their vehicle was later found abandoned on Oklahoma Highway 95 near Elkhart, just south of the Kansas state line.
Following an investigation, law enforcement arrested five individuals in connection to the killings. Cole Twombly, 50, Cora Twombly, 44, Tad Cullum, 43, and Tifany Adams, 54, were arrested in early April, and Paul Grice, 31, turned himself in shortly thereafter. Grice and Cora Twombly have waived their rights to a speedy trial, and Grice was transferred from Guymon to Woodward before being returned to Guymon.
Details from the Autopsy Reports
The recently released autopsy reports offer chilling details about the women’s deaths. In Kelley’s case, Medical Examiner Celia Cobb noted multiple stab wounds and incised wounds to the victim’s head, neck, shoulders, and hands, with defensive wounds indicating she had attempted to protect herself. Cobb reported a total of 16 sharp-force injuries, including seven stab wounds, and two stun gun marks.
For Butler, Cobb identified 30 sharp-force wounds, including 21 incised wounds and nine stab wounds. Ten of the incised wounds appeared to be defensive, consistent with Butler attempting to grab the knife blade during the attack, resulting in cuts to her fingers. Butler also sustained a blunt force injury to the back of her head.
Both women were buried in a freezer between 4.5 and 8 feet below ground and covered with a concrete slab. Despite the brutality of their deaths, the Medical Examiner stated that both women had died quickly from their injuries before being placed in the freezer.
Legal Proceedings and Witnesses
The State of Oklahoma has named additional witnesses in the case, including Paul Grice and Cora Twombly, who have agreed to testify against the other defendants. On November 18, a motion was filed to endorse these witnesses, as well as several others, including employees from local businesses like Guymon Tractor Supply and Walmart, and personnel from PTCI.
As the investigation continues, the legal process remains ongoing, with the case potentially heading to trial soon. While the exact motives behind the brutal killings remain unclear, the release of these autopsy reports and the endorsement of key witnesses mark significant steps in the case’s development.
This case continues to draw attention as the community awaits further details and the potential for justice for the victims, Jilian Kelley and Veronica Butler.
