Attorneys for Tad Cullum have filed a motion to quash all felony counts against him in the murders of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, citing insufficient evidence.

Cullum and Cole Twombly pleaded not guilty in court yesterday to the murders of the two Kansas mothers. Cullum’s attorneys say the charges should be dropped because the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence.

Murder and conspiracy charges

Cullum is charged with two counts of murder in the first degree, conspiracy, two counts of unlawful removal of a dead body, and two counts of unlawful desecration of a human corpse.

If convicted, the state has announced its plan to seek the death penalty.

For the two counts of murder, Cullum’s attorneys say the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence that Cullum caused either death with malice premeditation, saying it merits dismissal of both counts.

For the conspiracy charge, his lawyers say the state did not provide sufficient evidence that he was a party to conspiracy or, if the court finds he entered a conspiracy, he did not remain a party to any conspiracy.

Body removal and desecration charges

His lawyers also argue there is not sufficient evidence to prove he intentionally removed the remains of the two women from the site.

The legal team says the state failed to provide sufficient evidence that he knowingly and willfully desecrated a human corpse.

Cullum claims he helped move the remains under duress and that Paul Grice held him at gunpoint.

According to his lawyers, the testimonies provided by Paul Grice and Cora Twombly are unreliable and self-serving in order to avoid the death penalty themselves. Because of this, Cullum asks the court to grant this motion to quash.

The next time defendants will appear in court will be on January 23, 2026, to discuss motions and a status hearing for Cullum and Cole Twombly.