Another suspect has been arrested in connection with the unsolved murders of two Oklahoma women, bringing the total number of suspects to five. Paul Grice, 31, was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree. The victims, 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley, disappeared on March 30.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) announced the arrest of Paul Grice in a press release on Wednesday, stating that he was booked into the Texas County Jail on five felony charges related to the deaths of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley. Grice is the fifth suspect to be arrested in the case, following the previous arrests of four other individuals:
* **Michael Scott Parker**, 50, was arrested on April 2 and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of kidnapping.
* **Amanda Green**, 31, was arrested on April 2 and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree.
* **Donald Crawford**, 35, was arrested on April 4 and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of kidnapping.
* **Raylene Kelley**, 39, was arrested on April 5 and charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree.
The investigation into the deaths of Butler and Kelley began on March 30, when the two women were reported missing after they failed to return home from a trip to a local Walmart. Their vehicle was later found abandoned in a field near Texhoma, Oklahoma.
According to the OSBI, the investigation has uncovered that Butler and Kelley were allegedly targeted by the suspects due to personal relationships and financial disputes. The specific details of the motive and the events leading to their deaths are still under investigation.
The OSBI has not released any information about the evidence that led to Grice's arrest, but they have stated that the investigation is ongoing and that additional arrests are possible.
The families of Butler and Kelley have expressed gratitude for the progress in the investigation and have called for justice to be served.
Veronica Butler was a mother of four children, and her family described her as a loving and caring person. Jilian Kelley was a mother of one child, and her family remembered her as a kind and compassionate woman.
The community of Guymon, Oklahoma, where the victims lived, has been deeply shaken by their deaths. Residents have organized vigils and fundraisers to support the families of Butler and Kelley.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is asking anyone with information about the case to contact them at (800) 522-8017 or by email at [email protected].
