Preliminary hearings for four suspects charged in murder of Hugoton women set for December

GUYMON, Okla. (KAKE) – An Oklahoma judge ordered that the preliminary hearings for four of the suspects charged in the murder of two Hugoton, Kansas women earlier this year will be heard together.

The hearing for Cole and Cora Twombly, Tad Cullum and Tifany Adams will be held on December 17, 2024. On that date, the judge will determine if there’s enough evidence to hold someone for trial. Out of the five, Paul Grice waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. His next hearing is February 18, 2025. In addition, Bond was denied for Grice.

All five are accused in the murder of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley back in April. Butler and Kelley were traveling together to pick up children when they went missing. Their car was found abandoned in a remote part of northern Oklahoma near the Kansas border, while their bodies were found weeks later in Texas County, Oklahoma.