by Texas County, Oklahoma — An Oklahoma grandmother convicted in the chilling kidnapping and murder of two Kansas mothers will spend the rest of her life in prison without the possibility of parole, closing one chapter in a case rooted in a bitter custody dispute and extremist beliefs.
Tifany Machel Adams, 56, was sentenced Monday to life without parole after entering a no-contest plea to multiple felony charges tied to the deaths of Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39. The two women vanished in March 2024 while traveling to pick up Butler’s children for a birthday celebration.
Mothers vanished during routine trip to pick up children
Butler and Kelley were last seen on March 30, 2024, driving from southern Kansas into rural Oklahoma. The trip was meant to be routine: Butler had court-ordered visitation with her children that weekend, and Kelley had been appointed by the court to supervise the exchange.
When the women failed to arrive, relatives reported them missing. Authorities later discovered their abandoned vehicle near Highway 95 and Road L in Texas County, close to the Kansas border. Investigators quickly determined the situation involved foul play.
Custody dispute escalated into violent plot
As the investigation unfolded, law enforcement uncovered evidence pointing to a deeply hostile custody conflict involving Adams, who is the grandmother of Butler’s children. Butler shared two children with Adams’ son, and court records showed ongoing tension surrounding visitation rights.
Prosecutors alleged Adams believed Butler was a threat to maintaining control over the children. That animosity, investigators said, escalated into a coordinated plan to intercept Butler during the visitation exchange.
Kidnapping led to execution-style killings
According to authorities, Adams and several co-defendants ambushed Butler and Kelley while they were traveling on a rural roadway. The women were kidnapped and later killed, their bodies hidden in remote areas of Texas County.
After more than two weeks of searching, investigators located the victims’ remains. The discovery confirmed fears that the women had been murdered shortly after their disappearance.
Court details disturbing efforts to conceal crimes
Adams pleaded no contest to six felony charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of unlawful removal of a dead body, and two counts of unlawful desecration of a human corpse.
In exchange for her plea, prosecutors dropped three additional charges, including conspiracy and child neglect.
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A no-contest plea does not require an admission of guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
The sentencing judge imposed life without parole, citing the calculated nature of the crimes and the lasting harm inflicted on the victims’ families.
Multiple co-defendants still face trial or sentencing
Adams was not acting alone. Authorities have charged four additional suspects in connection with the murders, including Adams’ longtime boyfriend and members of a group tied to anti-government ideology.
Prosecutors said Adams and several co-defendants were affiliated with a fringe group calling itself “God’s Misfits,” which reportedly held regular meetings and espoused extremist views.
Two co-defendants have already entered plea agreements and testified about the murders.
One defendant received a deal that removed the possibility of the death penalty in exchange for cooperation. Another must serve at least 30 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.
Remaining trials scheduled years out
The remaining defendants face lengthy legal battles ahead. One trial is scheduled for later this year, while another has been set as far out as 2027, reflecting the complexity and volume of evidence in the case.
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Defense attorneys for one accused killer have filed motions challenging the constitutionality of the death penalty, arguing it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Political ties add further controversy
The case drew additional scrutiny after it emerged that Adams had previously served as a local Republican Party chair in Oklahoma’s panhandle region. State officials confirmed her past political role but emphasized it had no bearing on the prosecution.
Community members described the revelations as shocking, given Adams’ public-facing role prior to the crimes.
Families left with lifelong grief
For the families of Butler and Kelley, the sentencing offers some measure of justice but no true closure. Butler’s children have lost their mother, while Kelley’s loved ones continue to mourn a woman who stepped in simply to help a friend.
Investigators described the case as a sobering reminder of how custody disputes, when fueled by extremism and obsession, can spiral into irreversible violence.
Do you think the justice system handled this case appropriately, or are there still unanswered questions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
