Oklahoma Opposes Motion to Dismiss, Case Against Tad Cullum Advances

The State of Oklahoma asked a Texas County judge on December 17 to deny a November motion by defendant Tad Cullum that sought dismissal of felony charges related to the deaths of two Kansas women. In its response the state emphasized that a preliminary hearing requires only a showing of probable cause, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and urged the court to allow the case to move forward.

Cullum's attorneys filed the motion in early November, arguing the evidence was insufficient to support the felony counts against him. The state countered that the legal standard for preliminary proceedings is lower, and it cited prior case law to support that distinction. The response also argued that Cullum's attack on testimony from cooperating witnesses misapplies the evidentiary threshold at this stage, and that the testimony cited by defense counsel meets the probable cause standard required for a preliminary determination.

The filing asked the court to deny the motion to quash so the case can advance to additional hearings. The next status and motions hearing is scheduled in Texas County court for January 23, 2026. Prosecutors and defense attorneys will use those appearances to shape the scope of pretrial litigation and to set later dates, including any preliminary hearing or trial preparations.

The charges stem from the deaths of two women from Kansas, Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, whose bodies were discovered in Oklahoma. Multiple defendants have been charged in Texas County court with murder and related counts, and pretrial motions have been a sustained focus of legal activity in the county. The proceedings have drawn ongoing attention across the region as investigators and attorneys litigate evidentiary issues before trial.

For local residents the immediate impacts include continued presence of high profile court business in Texas County, potential increased traffic to the courthouse on hearing dates, and ongoing community concern over safety and justice for the victims. The January hearing will be a key waypoint in a case that remains in its early legal stages.