Co-defendants Paul Grice and Cora Twombly detail horrifying roles in the brutal killings and freezer burial of two Kansas mothers, revealing fanaticism, manipulation, and premeditated violence.

Opening Testimony Unveils Plot from Planning to Execution

July 12, 2025: During preliminary hearings in Texas County, Oklahoma, former group members Paul Grice and Cora Twombly offered grim accounts of the murders of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley. Grice accepted a plea deal avoiding the death penalty, while Twombly is cooperating under a deal that includes 30 years prison before parole. Their testimony detailed the group’s planning, execution, and aftermath in chilling detail.

Custody Battle Motivated Plot, Early Assassination Attempts

Testimony revealed the motive: a custody fight between Butler and her children’s grandmother, Tifany Adams, alleged organizer. In August 2023, Adams allegedly recruited Twombly and Grice to “get rid of Veronica” to protect her grandchildren. A February attempt involved throwing a vise through Butler’s car windshield—intended to look accidental—but failed.

Freezer Burial and Collateral Murder Plan

The revised plot in March targeted both intended victims. Access to a farm property and chest freezer was arranged to conceal the bodies in hay and dirt. Upon arrival, Butler and supervisor Kelley were ambushed—stabbed multiple times—and placed into the freezer for burial. Cora confirmed the planning included killing Kelley as “collateral damage.”

 “The Most Evil Laugh I Ever Heard”

Grice recounted the haunting moment during cleanup when Adams walked around Butler’s body and laughed—a sound he said was “the most evil laugh I ever heard.” He also expressed that he felt manipulated into participating and was meant to take the blame alone.

 Victim Struggle and Brutal Final Moments

Although the medical examiner reports weren’t part of the hearing, past filings indicate both victims suffered multiple sharp-force stabbings and blunt trauma, with defensive wounds showing fight attempts. Autopsy notes suggest stun gun use that incapacitated them before the final attack.

Legal Fallout Ahead

All five defendants face charges including first-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder. Twombly and Grice’s plea deals hinge on providing testimony; others—including Adams, Cullum, and Cole Twombly—are expected to proceed to trial, possibly facing the death penalty.

The Bigger Picture: Extremism Tied to Murder

Authorities emphasize that the defendants identified with an anti-government, Christian extremist group calling themselves “God’s Misfits.” Despite other groups named similarly distancing themselves from the crime, this faction reportedly held worship meetings and shared conspiratorial beliefs, including sovereign-citizen ideology.

The preliminary hearing marked a grim unveiling of premeditation, manipulation, and unchecked brutality. Twombly and Grice’s testimonies expose how ideology, perceived betrayal, and vengeance converged into a cold-blooded conspiracy—and how a custody dispute spiraled into fatal violence.