Search continues for missing women

HUGOTON, Kan. — Two women from Hugoton, Kansas, identified as 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley, have gone missing, prompting an expanded search effort. The Texas County Sheriff’s Department has enlisted the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to look into their suspicious disappearance.

Jilian Kelley is the wife of Pastor Heath Kelley, who recently became the pastor of the Willow Christian Church in Indianola, Neb. A special prayer vigil was held Sunday evening.

Hugoton First Christian Church, Pastor Heath Kelley's current church, also opened its doors Sunday for "continuous prayers."

As a result of the missing women, Yarbrough School, where Butler graduated in 2015, was operating in a locked-down status today.

The incident occurred Saturday while Kelley was traveling with Butler to pick up Butler's children. Despite locating Butler's car, neither woman has been found. The Texas County Sheriff's Department stated that the two were en route to pick up children but never arrived.

The pair were due to pick up Veronica's six-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son in Eva, Oklahoma, to celebrate her daughter's birthday, ABC 7 News reports. Jilian had traveled with her from Elkhart in Kansas but the expected 16-mile trip stopped three miles short.

An endangered missing person alert has been activated, with the search focused on a rural home in Eva, Oklahoma. The vehicle was discovered abandoned near Highway 95 and Road L, south of Elkhart. OSBI special agents, in collaboration with local law enforcement, are actively pursuing leads.

“As of right now, as the investigation continues and we were requested, we’re unsure where these women are or what happened to them,” said Hunter Mckee, OSBI Public Information Manager. “That unknown is what has created it suspicious for us at this time.”

"Veronica has several tattoos, a Chinese symbol on her left forearm, a sunflower on her left shoulder," says a missing persons advisory from the Texas County Sheriff’s Office. "Jilian 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, the alert adds.

Authorities urge anyone with information to contact OSBI at tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017