Guymon, Oklahoma: An Oklahoma judge has mandated public defenders to represent four individuals associated with an anti-government faction following their court appearance on Wednesday, facing charges related to the kidnapping and murder of two Kansas women.

Not-Guilty Pleas Entered, Bail Denied

During the hearing, Texas County Associate District Judge Clark Jett entered not-guilty pleas for Tifany Adams, 54, and her boyfriend Tad Cullum, 43, both hailing from Keyes, Oklahoma, along with Cole and Cora Twombly from Texhoma, Oklahoma. Additionally, the judge denied bail for the accused individuals.

Legal Representation Assigned

The Oklahoma Indigent Defense System (OIDS) has been assigned to provide legal representation for all four defendants, confirmed OIDS Executive Director Tim Laughlin. However, Laughlin refrained from elaborating on the specifics of the case or the defendants, citing the agency’s policy to safeguard client privileges and interests throughout the trial process.

Charges and Circumstances

The defendants, Tifany Adams, Tad Cullum, and the Twomblys, face charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy in connection with the deaths of 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley from Hugoton, Kansas. Kelley, a pastor’s wife, accompanied Butler on March 30 to oversee a court-approved visitation, but both women never returned. Their disappearance initiated a two-week search, concluding with the arrests of the two couples and the tragic discovery of the victims’ bodies.

Authorities revealed that Adams, the grandmother of Butler’s children, was embroiled in a contentious custody battle with the deceased. Arrest affidavits described a harrowing scene near a rural highway intersection, where Butler had arranged to retrieve her children from Adams. Blood was discovered on the road, alongside Butler’s glasses near a broken hammer, painting a grim picture of the events leading to the victims’ demise.

Alleged Affiliation and Meetings

According to a witness who cooperated with Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents, all four suspects were purportedly affiliated with an anti-government group with religious inclinations, identifying themselves as God’s Misfits. The group allegedly convened regular meetings at the Twomblys’ residence and another couple’s home, who had been entrusted with watching the children on the day of the women’s disappearance.

Relatives’ Responses

Efforts to reach out to relatives of Tad Cullum and the Twomblys for comments have been unsuccessful, with phone messages remaining unanswered. Tifany Adams’ stepmother, Elise Adams, declined to provide any information regarding the matter.

Seeking Justice

As legal proceedings advance, the community awaits further developments in this distressing case, emphasizing the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families.

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