Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

The suspected mastermind in the deaths of moms Veronica Butler and Jillian Kelley, has pleaded no contest to the murders. Grandmother Tiffany Adams made the plea to murder, removal of a body, and desecration of a corpse charges. The full autopsy reports on Veronica Butler and Jillian Kelley identified their cause of death as multiple sharp force trauma. The reports list a total of 30 wounds on each victim, including 9 stab wounds and 21 cuts. Many of Butler's wounds were consistent with defensive injuries. A police affidavit states that Tifany Adams allegedly made statements implicating herself in the deaths of Butler and Kelley. Investigators believe Butler and Kelley were lured to the location, arriving around 9:40 a.m. Officers found pools of blood, Butler’s glasses on the ground, and a broken hammer at the scene. Police believe the women were then forced into another vehicle. The probable cause affidavit contains extensive details, but the women’s causes of death were not initially disclosed. Their bodies were discovered in a cattle pasture leased by Tad Bert Cullum, the boyfriend of Tifany Adams. Cellphone data from three burner phones purchased by Adams helped narrow down the location. The phones first pinged near Butler's abandoned car, and the data later led police to the pasture. Officers found signs of digging. A hole, which had been refilled, contained the bodies of the two women. Investigators cite a custody battle over Butler’s two children as the motive. The custody dispute had lasted more than five years. Butler’s ex-partner, Wrangler Rickman, who is Adams’ son, had custody of the children. However, Rickman was confirmed to be in a rehabilitation facility in Oklahoma City at the time. Butler was allowed supervised visitation with her children every Saturday. According to her attorney, she was likely to gain unsupervised visitation in an upcoming hearing. The affidavit states, “Adams vehemently opposed this and went to great lengths to plan and purchase items used in Butler and Kelley’s murders.” It continues, “Adams, Cullum, Cole, and Cora were willing to kidnap and murder two victims to limit visitation for Butler.” Court documents also allege that Adams and her accomplices attempted to kill Butler in February. Adams, her boyfriend, and another couple reportedly drove to Butler’s home near Hugoton, Kansas, intending to kill her. A witness told investigators the plan was to throw an anvil through Butler’s windshield to make it appear as an accident, but Butler did not leave her home. State investigators retrieved data from Adams’ phone showing searches for terms such as “taser pain level,” “gun shops,” “prepaid cellular phones,” and “how to get someone out of their house.” According to the documents, Adams purchased five stun guns before the women disappeared. She also bought three prepaid burner phones from a nearby Walmart. All the burner phones stopped transmitting on the morning of the women’s disappearance. After the attack, the bodies were reportedly stored in a sealed freezer before being buried 4 to 8 feet underground. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Kelly Hyman- Trial & Civil Attorney, TV Legal Analyst, Podcast Host: "Once Upon a Crime In Hollywood", Twitter: @kellyhyman1, TikTok: @kelly.hyman, Instagram: @Kelly_Hyman1 Sheryl McCollum – Forensics Expert & Cold Case Investigative Research Institute Founder; Host of Podcast: “Zone 7;” X: @149Zone7 Irv Brandt – Senior Inspector, US Marshals Service International Investigations Branch; Chief Inspector, DOJ Office of International Affairs, US Embassy Kingston, Jamaica; Author: “SOLO SHOT: CURSE OF THE BLUE STONE” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON IN JANUARY; ALSO “FLYING SOLO: Top of the World;” Twitter: @JackSoloAuthor Dr. Kendall Crowns – Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth) and Lecturer: University of Texas Austin and Texas Christian University Medical School Lauren Conlin – Investigative Journalist, Host of The Outlier Podcast, and also Host of “Corruption: What Happened to Grant Solomon; X- @Conlin_Lauren/ Instagram- @LaurenEmilyConlin/YouTube- @LaurenConlin4 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Dr. Spencer Tepe doesn't show up for work at Athens Dental Depot in Columbus, Ohio, coworkers are shocked. They call their boss, the owner of Athens Dental, Dr Mark Valrose. Valrose is on vacation in Florida, but Spencer not showing up is so unusual that coworkers felt they needed to let Valrose know. Valrose tries to contact Spencer, and failing at that, Tepe's wife, Monique, is even more predictable than her husband. Unable to reach either Tepe, Valrose calls 911 in Columbus, Ohio, at 9:03 a.m., requesting a wellness check. Joining Nancy Grace: Derek Smith - Criminal Defense Attorney Dr. Joni Johnston - Forensic Psychologist and private investigator, performs risk and threat assessments on violent offenders, Author: “Serial Killers: 101 Questions True Crime Fans Ask;" Also Author of "CONTROLLING ANXIETY (The Complete Idiot's Guide)," "FIGHT YOUR FRIGHT: A Holistic Approach to Understanding & Overcoming Anxiety," and "APPEARANCE OBSESSION Learning to Love the Way You Look" Tom Smith - Former NYPD Detective for 30 years - Narcotics, Robbery Squad, Gang Investigations - was also assigned to the FBI/NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force. Co-Host of the GOLD SHIELDS Podcast; FB & Instagram: @thegoldshieldshow Dr. Priya Banerjee - Board Certified Forensic Pathologist and Anatomic Pathologist, Anchor Forensic Pathology Consulting Susan Hendricks - Journalist, Author: “Down the Hill: My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi;" IG @susan_hendricks X @SusanHendicks Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole Boodhai has been indicted on murder in the second degree for intentionally causing the death of her 15-month-old son, Charlie Ramraykha, discovered in a locked bathroom. The mother and stepfather of a 12-year-old Oklahoma boy missing since Friday have been arrested. An Illinois man has been charged with multiple counts relating to an alleged assault on his girlfriend as they were driving through Moultrie County last month. Sydney Sumner reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Linda Brown misses the first day of school after winter break, loved ones know something is wrong. Linda would never let her students down. Linda is a beloved special education teacher at Robert Healy Elementary School in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, happily married to Antwon Brown. Chicago PD is desperately searching for the missing school teacher. The special educator was last seen by her husband on Friday evening and by neighbors Saturday morning. Linda misses a weekly appointment that day, and isn’t answering her phone. Concern turns to fear when Linda hasn’t returned home on Sunday. Though Antwon last saw Linda Friday night, neighbors say they spotted her Saturday morning near their home.Linda’s purse, with her wallet and phone, is missing from the home, and her phone rings when called. Family members and friends retrace the teacher’s last known steps, but don’t find any leads. Her sister’s husband, Lorenzo, tells “Crime Stories” staff that Linda’s vehicle has been located at 35th and Lake Park. Security footage also shows her walking across a pedestrian bridge alone on January 3, at around 3 a.m., according to the husband. Linda is 5 feet tall, 130 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, last seen wearing a long, puffy black coat with shiny Ugg-style boots. Authorities are searching the area where her blue Honda Civic, plate number CX57470, was located on Wednesday afternoon. Anyone with information on Linda Brown should contact Chicago PD SVU detectives at 312-747-8380. Joining Nancy Grace today: Matthew Mangino - Attorney, Former District Attorney (Lawrence County, PA); Author: "The Executioner's Toll: The Crimes, Arrests, Trials, Appeals, Last Meals, Final Words and Executions of 46 Persons in the United States" Dr. Janie Lacy - Licensed Psychotherapist and CEO of Life Counseling Solutions, Author of "How To Heal From A Toxic Relationship: A Guide To Reclaiming Your Mental Health and Happiness," and Host of “The Resilient Professional” Podcast on YouTube; Instagram & Facebook: @JanieLacy Brian Fitzgibbons - Director of Operations for USPA Nationwide Security (leads a team of investigators specializing in locating missing persons), and Former Marine and Iraq War Veteran; Instagram: @uspa_nationwide_security Rhonda Dequier- Founder of Missing In America Network Leslie Moreno - Reporter at FOX 32 Chicago; Instagram: LeslieMorenoTV Sydney Sumner - Investigative Reporter, "Crime Stories" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fatal Festivities: A negligent neighbor is facing manslaughter charges after accidentally gunning down a granny while testing out a new Glock he got for Christmas. A man stabs his ex-GF dead in her apartment, files a bogus missing report -then, bolts to India...before cops close in. Plus, an arrest that wasn't par for the course! Jennifer Gould reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.