The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has released the full autopsy report for Veronica Butler, one of two women tragically murdered earlier this year. The report reveals Butler suffered 30 stab wounds, a third of which were defensive in nature, indicating she fought back against her attackers. The examination also noted a blunt force injury to her head and potential stun gun marks on her back, although decomposition hindered definitive conclusions.
Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, were discovered on April 14, buried in a chest freezer on rural property near where they were killed, two weeks after they vanished. They were last seen heading to Texas County, Oklahoma, to pick up Butler’s children from their grandmother’s home.
The gruesome findings further detailed that the freezer containing their bodies was buried between 4 1/2 to 8 feet deep, covered with a large concrete slab, evidencing premeditation and effort to conceal the crime. The medical examiner concluded that Butler’s death was rapid and occurred before she was placed in the freezer.
Five individuals, including the children’s grandmother, Tifany Adams, her boyfriend Tad Cullum, and the Twombley couple, Cole and Cora, along with Paul Grice, have been charged with multiple counts relating to the murders. The investigation uncovered that Adams had purchased burner phones and stun guns for the attack, and one of the stun guns was found buried beneath the freezer along with other incriminating items like tape and a knife.
Cullum reportedly obtained permission to dig on the land, which he did not own, and used a skid steer to prepare the burial site the day before the murders, as per court documents. These documents allege that Cullum was responsible for killing Kelley and Grice for killing Butler, with the Twombleys serving as lookouts as the group ambushed the two women on their journey.
This harrowing case has shocked the community and continues to unfold as legal proceedings against the accused progress. For ongoing updates on this case and other true crime news, listeners can follow the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
