Woman pleads no contest in Oklahoma murders of two Kansas women
By Jason Burger
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GUYMON, Oklahoma (KOCO) — Tifany Adams has pleaded no contest to six of the nine charges against her in connection with the murders of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, two Kansas women found in the Oklahoma Panhandle, and will not face the death penalty.
Adams, who is in custody in Texas County, was accused of orchestrating a plot to kill Butler with four other suspects.
“Tifany’s thing was, she hated Veronica; she wanted her out of her life, she wanted her gone, so that she could raise her grandchildren, and the only way to do that, was to eliminate her,” said Ladonna Thompson, Veronica Butler’s aunt.
Since the spring of 2024, Veronica’s aunt, Ladonna Thompson, has been in touch with the media.
New court documents reveal that Adams will be spared the death penalty, stating, “In exchange for the defendant’s plea of no contest, the State of Oklahoma agrees that it will not file a bill of particulars or seek the death penalty in this case.”
The six charges include first-degree murder and desecration of a corpse in the deaths of Veronica and Jilian.
“Jillian was just along for the ride when they were headed to pick up the children for a birthday party,” Thompson said.
The two women were traveling together from Hugoton, Kansas, to pick up Butler’s children when they went missing in Texas County, Oklahoma. They were reported missing on March 30, 2024, and were found buried two weeks later.
“She’s loved, and she will never be forgotten. And that’s exactly what we say. She’s very loved and never forgotten,” Thompson said.
As part of the plea agreement, the state will drop three charges against Tifany Adams — two for child neglect and one for conspiracy.
She could still face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Her sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 28.
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