A beloved presence in the hearts of many, Veronica Butler will always be remembered for her unwavering love as a mother and the kindness that touched those around her. The 27-year-old from Hugoton, Kansas, tragically lost her life on March 30, 2024, alongside Jilian Kelley during a supervised child visitation trip in rural Oklahoma.
This devastating double homicide, rooted in a bitter custody dispute, has left families and communities across the Kansas-Oklahoma border grappling with profound loss and seeking justice.
Veronica and Jilian, a 39-year-old pastor’s wife serving as visitation supervisor, set out that Saturday morning to pick up Veronica’s two young children, aged 6 and 8, from their paternal grandmother in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Their vehicle was later discovered abandoned on a remote dirt road in Texas County, with signs of struggle including blood evidence and personal items scattered nearby.
After two weeks of anxious waiting, authorities located the women’s bodies on April 13, buried deep in a cow pasture beneath a freezer sealed and interred 8 to 10 feet underground. Autopsy reports confirmed both died from multiple sharp force injuries, with Veronica sustaining around 30 stab and cut wounds, including defensive marks on her hands indicating a desperate fight for survival. The brutality of the attack, involving knives and a stun gun, underscored the premeditated nature of the crime that shocked investigators and the public alike.
Five individuals, including the children’s paternal grandmother Tifany Adams and members of a group known as “God’s Misfits,” were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy. Court documents revealed the plot stemmed from an escalating custody battle, where Adams allegedly orchestrated the ambush to permanently remove Veronica from her children’s lives. Ongoing legal proceedings, including death penalty considerations for some defendants, continue to unfold as families pursue accountability.
Veronica devoted her life to her children, navigating young motherhood with determination and a gentle spirit that friends described as full of warmth and resilience. Engaged in everyday pursuits centered on family stability, she aspired to provide a nurturing environment despite challenges, embodying quiet strength in her role as a parent. Her sudden absence has left her son and daughter without their mother’s embrace, amplifying the tragedy’s ripple effects through generations.
In response to the heartbreak, the community has united in tribute, with lawmakers proposing to designate a section of Oklahoma Highway 95 as the Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley Memorial Highway. Fundraisers support the families and this lasting honor, ensuring their names endure as symbols of love and loss.