A grandmother in Kansas, along with her boyfriend and two accomplices, has been accused of killing two women during a child custody battle. The victims, Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, were likely targeted so that the grandmother could gain custody of Butler’s two children. Butler’s son, who had temporary custody of the children, was confirmed to be in rehab at the time of the women’s disappearance. Butler had supervised visitation with her children and was on track to receive unsupervised visitation soon. When Butler and Kelley went missing, their families found evidence of foul play at the scene, leading investigators to discover their bodies in a cow pasture.
Court documents revealed that the suspects had ties to an anti-government group called “God’s Misfits” and had a plan to harm Butler and Kelley. The suspects had searched for information on tasers, gun shops, and how to remove someone from a house, indicating premeditation. Interviews with the accomplices’ 16-year-old daughter revealed that the group had discussed various methods to harm Butler, including staging an accident with an anvil. The daughter also mentioned that another individual was involved in planning the women’s deaths but had not been arrested at the time.
The investigation into the women’s deaths also uncovered conversations indicating that Butler and Kelley may have been targeted due to allegations of sexual abuse involving Butler’s brother. The suspects believed that both women were not innocent and had discussed disposing of the bodies by placing them in a well. The suspects used burner phones to communicate discreetly about their plans and purchased stun guns before the killings. Despite pending medical examiner reports, authorities confirmed that there is no chance that Butler and Kelley are still alive.
The grandmother, boyfriend, and two accomplices have been charged with multiple counts, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder. The grandmother had made statements indicating that Butler canceled her visit with the children, but phone records showed that Butler was on her way to pick up Kelley for the visit. The grandmother had expressed confidence that the custody battle with Butler would soon be resolved and had made ominous statements about knowing the judge’s route to work.
The involvement of the anti-government group, their premeditated actions, and the discovery of evidence linking them to the crime scene paint a chilling picture of the events leading to the deaths of Butler and Kelley. The tragic nature of the case has shocked the community, with investigators describing the crime as brutal. As the legal proceedings continue, authorities are working to bring justice to the victims and their families while unraveling the full extent of the conspiracy that led to the women’s deaths.
