In the rural expanses of Oklahoma's panhandle, a group known as "God's Misfits" has recently come under the spotlight, not for their spiritual guidance but for their alleged connection to a chilling crime that has shaken local communities.
The group known as "God's Misfits" is based in Keyes and this small town in Texas County has become the focal point of the investigation into the brutal murders of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley.
The group's activities and the recent criminal charges against its members have drawn significant attention to this otherwise quiet community.
The women disappeared on March 30, 2024, while traveling to Oklahoma to pick up Butler's children from their grandmother, Tifany Adams, who has since been charged alongside three others in this horrific case.
According to reports, Adams, along with Tad Bert Cullum, Cole Earl Twombly, and Cora Twombly, all members of "God's Misfits," were arrested in November on charges of murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder.
Grice stabbed Butler to death, cutting his hand badly in the process, while Cullum stabbed and killed Kelley. The women’s bodies were then placed in the freezer and driven to the burial site.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation detailed a grim scene where the victims' car was found abandoned, marked by trails of blood, a broken hammer, and Butler's glasses, suggesting a violent confrontation.
The bodies of Butler and Kelley were later found buried in a pasture, adding a layer of premeditation to the crime.
This case has not only highlighted the activities of "God's Misfits" but has also led to confusion with another group of the same name, based in South Carolina. This unrelated "God's Misfits" ministry, led by a man referred to as "Squirrel," has publicly distanced itself from the criminal activities in Oklahoma.
"Squirrel" emphasized in a statement that his group focuses on spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, not endorsing hate or murder, vehemently denying any association with the Oklahoma members.
The Oklahoma group's ideology appears to mesh anti-government sentiments with a religious fervor, though much about their beliefs and practices remains shrouded in mystery.
Social media posts from the suspects suggest their involvement with the group since at least last year, with activities ranging from prayer meetings to what has now been alleged as planning criminal acts.
The legal proceedings have been fraught with emotion, with relatives of the victims nearly coming to blows with the accused during an arraignment. The charged individuals have been denied bond and are set to appear in court again, with the community and law enforcement grappling with the implications of such a case in their midst.
This saga has opened a Pandora's box of questions about the intersection of faith, radical beliefs, and crime in rural America. It's a stark reminder of how the veneer of religious or communal gatherings can sometimes mask darker intentions. For the families of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, the impact is immeasurable, their lives forever altered by the actions of those they trusted, even if only through the lens of a custody arrangement.
As investigations continue and the legal process unfolds, many in Oklahoma and Arkansas are left pondering the true nature of "God's Misfits" and what this case reveals about the undercurrents of belief and lawlessness that can coexist in society's quieter corners.
