PLAY. YEAH GUYS THAT’S RIGHT, OSBI IS NOW CALLING THIS A SUSPICIOUS CASE. AND THESE TWO WOMEN INVOLVED WERE VERY INVOLVED WITH THEIR LOCAL CHURCHES. THEY RECENTLY WENT MISSING AND THEY’VE BEEN GONE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE PROCESSING THROUGH SOME ANGER, UH, CONFUSION, NOT KNOWING, NOT HAVING ANSWERS AS TO WHAT HAS GONE ON OR WHAT EVENTS TRANSPIRED OR WHAT CAUSED THE EVENTS TO TRANSPIRE, OUR PASTOR SINGER SAYS HIS CONGREGATION AND THE HUGOTON, KANSAS COMMUNITY ARE HAING A HARD TIME WITH THE SUSPICIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF 27 YEAR OLD VERONICA BUTLER, A MEMBER OF HIS OWN CHURCH. HE WAS GOING TO TO GET HER KIDS FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY AND NEVER MADE IT. BUT ANOTHER WOMAN, 39 YEAR OLD JILLIAN KELLY, WAS IN THE CAR WITH HER AND WORKS AT A DIFFERENT CHURCH IN HUGOTON. SHE IS THE WIFE OF A PASTOR HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ALSO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CHURCH, FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH. LORD, WE LIFT UP JILLIAN, WE LIFT UP VERONICA. WE PRAY FOR THEIR SAFETY. THE PASTOR THINKS THIS WASN’T AN ACCIDENT. IT APPEARS THAT, UH, THIS WAS NOT A WILLING INCIDENT ON THEIR OWN TO HAVE OF, UM, TO HAVE TAKEN OFF OF OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. IT LOOKS TO BE THAT THERE’S SOMETHING MORE INVOLVED. PLEASE. DEFINITELY KEEP THE KELLY FAMILY. UM, THEY’RE YOUR WHOLE FAMILY IN IN YOUR PRAYERS. AND JILLIAN AND VERONICA AS WELL. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW, PASTOR SINGER SAYS VERONICA AND JILLIAN WERE ON THEIR WAY TO TEXAS COUNTY, OKLAHOMA TO PICK UP VERONICA’S CHILDREN AND RETURN BACK TO HUGOTON FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY. THAT PARTY WAS SCHEDULED SATURDAY MORNING. ON EASTER WEEKEND, BUT VERONICA’S CAR WAS FOUND IN AN EXTREME RURAL AREA. THEY WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. THEIR VEHICLE WAS FOUND ABANDONED NEAR HIGHWAY 95 AND ROAD L. THIS WAS JUST SOUTH OF, UH, ELKHART, KANSAS AND VERY RURAL NORTHERN TEXAS COUNTY. AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, A SUSPECT HAS NOT BEEN NAMED. THAT INCLUDES, UH, FAMILY THAT INCLUDES FRIENDS, THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE THAT WERE IN CONTACT WITH THEM. UM, UP UNTIL THE THE THE DAY WHEN THEIR VEHICLE WAS FOUND ON SATURDAY. NOW, I ALSO ASKED OSBI IF THEY KNOW WHERE THE FATHER IS. THE FATHER OF THESE CHILDREN AND IF HE IS COOPERATING, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT’S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. I ALSO TALKED WITH OSBI TONIGHT AND THEY TOLD ME IT’S NOT CLEAR WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THESE WOMEN WE
Community searches for answers after 2 women disappeared from Oklahoma Panhandle
Veronica Butler, 27, was headed to Texas County to pick up her children. Jillian Kelley, 39, was in the car with her, but the two never showed up.
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Updated: 10:12 PM CDT Apr 3, 2024
Two women driving to the Oklahoma Panhandle disappeared, and investigators are now calling this a suspicious case. Veronica Butler, 27, was headed to Texas County to pick up her children. Jillian Kelley, 39, was in the car with her, but the two never showed up. | MORE | OSBI investigates suspicious disappearance of 2 women in Texas CountyAuthorities later found the car they were traveling in abandoned. On Wednesday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation called the case suspicious. Both women were from Hugoton, Kansas, where they were very involved in churches. Their disappearance shook the community as the search for them continued. "They’re processing through some anger, confusion, not knowing, not having answers as to what has gone on or what transpired, what caused the events to transpire," said Tim Singer, the pastor of Hugoton Assembly of God. Butler was a member of Singer's church. "She was going to get her kids for a birthday party, and she never made it," Singer said. >> Download the KOCO 5 AppKelley also worked at a separate church in the town. "She is the wife of a pastor here in our community. Also an employee of the church, First Christian Church," Singer said. The pastor said he thought this wasn't an accident. "It appears this was not a willing incident on their own to have taken off or anything of that nature. I think it’s something more involved," Singer said. Singer said Kelley and Butler were supposed to pick up the children in Texas County and return to Hugoton for the birthday party, which was scheduled for Saturday morning. Butler's car was found in an extremely rural area, and they were nowhere to be found. "Their vehicle was found abandoned near Highway 95 and Road L. This was just south of Elkhart, Kansas, in rural Texas County," said Hunter McKee, a spokesperson for OSBI. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.As the investigation continues, a suspect has not been named. "That includes friends. That includes family members and people that were in contact with them up until the day the vehicle was found on Saturday," McKee said. OSBI said they are still investigating if the father of the children was cooperating with law enforcement. Top Headlines 6 sisters attending Long Island university together with dreams of opening nursing center Rollover crash causes traffic delays on I-235 in Oklahoma City Rocklahoma 2024 lineup features big-name headliners Oklahoma nonprofit breaks ground on largest affordable housing development in its history Crews battle massive flames after car catches fire in southwest OKC
TEXAS COUNTY, Okla. — Two women driving to the Oklahoma Panhandle disappeared, and investigators are now calling this a suspicious case.
Veronica Butler, 27, was headed to Texas County to pick up her children. Jillian Kelley, 39, was in the car with her, but the two never showed up.
| MORE | OSBI investigates suspicious disappearance of 2 women in Texas County
Authorities later found the car they were traveling in abandoned. On Wednesday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation called the case suspicious.
Both women were from Hugoton, Kansas, where they were very involved in churches. Their disappearance shook the community as the search for them continued.
"They’re processing through some anger, confusion, not knowing, not having answers as to what has gone on or what transpired, what caused the events to transpire," said Tim Singer, the pastor of Hugoton Assembly of God.
Butler was a member of Singer's church.
"She was going to get her kids for a birthday party, and she never made it," Singer said.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
Kelley also worked at a separate church in the town.
"She is the wife of a pastor here in our community. Also an employee of the church, First Christian Church," Singer said.
The pastor said he thought this wasn't an accident.
"It appears this was not a willing incident on their own to have taken off or anything of that nature. I think it’s something more involved," Singer said.
Singer said Kelley and Butler were supposed to pick up the children in Texas County and return to Hugoton for the birthday party, which was scheduled for Saturday morning. Butler's car was found in an extremely rural area, and they were nowhere to be found.
"Their vehicle was found abandoned near Highway 95 and Road L. This was just south of Elkhart, Kansas, in rural Texas County," said Hunter McKee, a spokesperson for OSBI.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
As the investigation continues, a suspect has not been named.
"That includes friends. That includes family members and people that were in contact with them up until the day the vehicle was found on Saturday," McKee said.
OSBI said they are still investigating if the father of the children was cooperating with law enforcement.
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