A Kansas woman who went missing this year and was found in a freezer buried in a cow pasture in Oklahoma’s Panhandle was stabbed to death and left with dozens of wounds, according to a coroner’s report. .
Veronica Butler, 27, died from sharp-impact trauma and had 30 wounds, 10 of which were consistent with injuries sustained when she was trying to protect herself, the state’s chief medical examiner’s office said in a report. .
Butler and Jillian Kelly, 39, a court supervisor in child custody cases, disappeared on March 30th. Their bodies were discovered on April 14 in Texas County, Oklahoma, 10 miles from where they disappeared, according to an affidavit filed by police. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
The coroner said Butler had lacerations to his head, likely caused by a stun gun, and likely died when he was placed in the freezer and buried.
Five people were charged with murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and kidnapping. Adams’ boyfriend, Tad Burt Cullum. Cora Earl Twombly; Cora Twombly. And Paul Grice.
Four of the five are represented by the Oklahoma Indian Defense System. Tim Laughlin, the agency’s executive director, declined to comment Thursday.
An attorney believed to be representing Callum could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.
According to court records, Cullum rented the area where Butler and Kelly were found for cattle grazing.
Butler and Adams were involved in a custody battle that began in February 2019, according to the affidavit. According to court records, Ms. Adams is the mother of the children’s father.
According to court records, Butler has requested extended visitation, and her attorney told the State Bureau of Investigation that unsupervised visitation will likely take place at an April 17 hearing.
The bureau’s affidavit also revealed that the children’s father said he sometimes did not allow Adams to have the children, even though he had legal custody. .
On the day she disappeared, Butler was planning to take her daughter to a birthday party.
