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Update: Foul play suspected in the disappearance of 2 women in Oklahoma

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April 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Update 4/3/24 – Officials with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation late this (Wednesday) afternoon, issued a statement with regard to two women whose vehicle was found abandoned. One of the women’s husband was a Pastor in Griswold, Iowa, for a few years.  The OSBI said “Based on the information obtained from the victim’s vehicle, our investigators believe there was evidence to indicate foul play. We are still searching for these victims and there are no arrests at this time.” Authorities are still asking for anyone with additional information to please contact the OSBI at tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017.

Previous story posted April 2nd:

Jillian Kelley

Authorities in Oklahoma have issued an “At-Risk/Missing Persons” bulletin for two women, one of whom has ties to Cass County, Iowa. Reports say 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jillian Kelley, both of Hugoton, Kansas, went missing while Kelly and Butler were traveling to visit Butler’s children in Oklahoma.They were last seen March 30th. Butler’s car was found abandoned near Highway 95 and Road L, south of Elkhart, Oklahoma. To date, no trace of the women has been found.

Jillian Kelly is the wife of Pastor Heath Kelley, who recently became the pastor of the Willow Christian Church in Indianola, Neb. Pastor Kelly previously served as a Youth Minister at the Church of Christ in Griswold (IA). The couple has four children.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the search for the women and the reasons for their suspicious disappearance. The missing person’s bulletin says Veronica Butler has several tattoos, a Chinese symbol on her left forearm, a sunflower on her left shoulder. Jillian Kelley has a butterfly tattoo on her left forearm. The alert describes Butler as being 5-feet 4-inches tall with red hair and green eyes, last seen wearing a blue short-sleeve shirt and denim shorts. Kelley has brown hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing a long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans and tan or beige shoes.

Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) at tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017.

Veronica Butler