Killings of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley
LocationHighway 95, Texas County, Oklahoma, U.S.
Coordinates37°08′54″N 101°17′04″W / 37.1482°N 101.2844°W / 37.1482; -101.2844
DateMarch 30, 2024
Attack type
Double-Homicide, kidnappings
Deaths2
VictimsVeronica Butler
Jilian Kelley
Accused5
Charges

On March 30, 2024, Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley (née Dalbey) of Hugoton, Kansas, went missing after arriving to Four Corners, Oklahoma, to took up their children and attend a birthday party.[1] Butler's vehicle was found abandoned near Highway 95 in Texas County, Oklahoma, south of the state border with Kansas.[2] The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) stated in a press conference that foul play was suspected in the disappearances, and an Endangered Missing Advisory (EMA) Alert was issued for Butler and Kelley.[3]

On April 14, the bodies of Butler and Kelley were found in Texas County inside a chest freezer buried in a cow pasture.[4] Court documents says that Butler and Kelley were stabbed and killed.[5] The authorities arrested and charged five suspects with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in first degree in relation in the killings of both women.[6][7]

Disappearances

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Victims

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Veronica Claire Butler was born on February 28, 1997, to Clinton and Amanda Butler. From childhood, she was actively involved in church and was a dedicated member of the Hugoton Assembly of God Church.[8] Butler was a certified nursing assistant.[8][9] She worked in various nursing homes. Butler was attending Seward County Community College to study surgical technologist.[9] Butler shared custody of her two children with the children's paternal grandmother.[10][11] She was engaged.[8]

Kelley was born Jilian Delores Dalbey on June 3, 1984, to Theodore Joe and Kalie Ann Dalbey.[12] In October 2002, she married Christian church minister Heath Kelley in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[13] Kelley was a devout Christian and served as the secretary of the First Christian Church in Hugoton, Kansas.[12]

Investigation

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Arrests

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Reactions and memorials

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See also

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Notes

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[[Category:2020s missing person cases]]

[[Category:Crimes in Oklahoma]]

[[Category:Missing person cases in Oklahoma]]

[[Category:March 2024 events in the United States]]

[[Category:April 2024 events in the United States]]

[[Category:March 2024 crimes in the United States]]

[[Category:April 2024 crimes in the United States]]

[[Category:2024 murders in the United States]]

[[Category:Incidents of violence against women]]

[[Category:2024 in Oklahoma]]

[[Category:Violence against women in Oklahoma]]

References

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  1. ^ Flores, Rosa; Weisfeldt, Sara; Levenson, Eric; Wolfe, Elizabeth (April 18, 2024). "Bodies of 2 murdered Kansas moms were buried on land leased by suspect, court documents say". ABC7.
  2. ^ Boyette, Chris; Sutton, Joe (April 15, 2024). "2 bodies found in rural Oklahoma as 4 suspects face murder charges in case of missing women". CNN.
  3. ^ Czachor, Emily Mae (April 4, 2024). "Evidence indicates "foul play" after 2 women disappear in Oklahoma, officials say". CBS News.
  4. ^ Price, Stepheny (September 12, 2024). "Court documents detail cause of death for murdered Kansas moms". Fox Wilmington.
  5. ^ Day, Wil (September 12, 2024). "Documents reveal cause of death for Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley". KSN-TV.
  6. ^ Davis, Kelsey; Stockton, Paige. "All 5 suspects in Texas County murders appear in court to consider consolidating case". KFDA 10.
  7. ^ Sarnoff, Leah (April 16, 2024). "Kansas women identified as 2 dead bodies discovered in Texas County, Oklahoma: Medical Examiner". ABC News.
  8. ^ a b c "Veronica Claire Butler". Robson Funeral Home.
  9. ^ a b Branson, Carina (May 3, 2024). "Celebration of Life held for Veronica Butler". KSNW.
  10. ^ Czachor, Emily Mae (May 23, 2024). "Missing womens' bodies found buried on farm property linked to grandma accused in complex murder plan, documents show". CBS News.
  11. ^ Castillo, Eduardo (April 16, 2024). "One of two missing Kansas women was embroiled in custody battle with suspect in her death". The Wichita Eagle.
  12. ^ a b "Jilian Delores (Dalbey) Kelley". Robson Funeral Home.
  13. ^ Standard, Christian (April 20, 2024). "Celebration of Life Service for Jilian Kelley Set for April 30". Christian Standard.