Authorities suspect foul play in the disappearance of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, two Kansas women who went missing over the weekend while traveling to pick up children. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) stated that evidence obtained from the victim’s vehicle indicates foul play, and they believe the women are in danger as it has been days since they were last seen or heard from. The women were traveling together to pick up children on Saturday but never made it to the pick-up location. Their vehicle was found abandoned in a rural area of Texas County, Oklahoma.
Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, were last seen near Highway 95 and Road L, south of Elkhart, Kansas. Both women have tattoos – Butler has a Chinese symbol on her left forearm and a sunflower on her left shoulder, while Kelley has a butterfly tattoo on her left forearm. Butler is described as 5-feet 4-inches tall with red hair and green eyes, and was last seen wearing a blue short-sleeve shirt and denim shorts. Kelley has brown hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and tan or beige shoes. Kelley is the wife of Pastor Heath Kelley, who is set to become the new minister at Willow Christian Church in Indianola, Nebraska.
The situation is being described as a “suspicious disappearance case” by the OSBI. The agency is now working with the Texas County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and other law enforcement agencies to locate the missing women. The Texas County Sheriff’s Office issued a missing persons advisory, requesting anyone with information to come forward. The community has come together in prayer for the safe return of Butler and Kelley, with Willow Christian Church holding a special prayer event for the two women and their families. The church expressed its belief in the power of prayer and that God will bring the women home safely.
The lack of answers in the case is weighing heavily on the loved ones of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley. OSBI public information manager Hunter McKee has emphasized the urgency of the situation as days have passed with no contact from the missing women. The rural area where their vehicle was last seen adds to the concern for their safety. Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information about the disappearance of Butler and Kelley to come forward. The search for the two continues as investigators work to piece together the events leading up to their disappearance and to locate the missing women.
Despite the lack of arrests at this time, investigators are actively pursuing leads and following up on tips in the ongoing search for Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley. The OSBI believes that foul play may be involved in the women’s disappearance, prompting a sense of urgency in the investigation. Family, friends, and community members are rallying together in hopes of finding Butler and Kelley and bringing them home safely. As the search continues, authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in providing any information that may help locate the missing women and shed light on what happened to them. The case remains open and ongoing as law enforcement agencies work tirelessly to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley.
