Man accused of killing 2 women, burying bodies in freezer, asks judge to recuse himself

GUYMON, Oklahoma (KVII) -- Tad Cullum, one of five suspects charged with the murders of two women whose bodies were discovered in a freezer, is seeking to have the presiding judge recused from the case. Cullum argues that Judge Jon K. Parsley's prior representation of his girlfriend, Tifany Machel Adams, in a civil matter creates a potential conflict of interest that could call the judge's impartiality into question.

In his motion, Cullum contends that recusal is warranted not just in instances of actual bias but also when there is an appearance of impropriety or lack of impartiality. He states that failure to recuse the judge infringes on his 14th Amendment right to a fair trial.

Cullum, along with co-defendants Adams and others, is accused of kidnapping and killing Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley. The victims had been traveling from Kansas to Oklahoma to pick up Butler's children for a birthday celebration when they went missing on March 30.

Their remains were subsequently found buried in a freezer on April 14, revealing the grim circumstances surrounding their disappearance. The situation is further complicated by ongoing family disputes; Butler and Adams were embroiled in a contentious custody battle over the children.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the question of the judge's impartiality and Cullum's request for recusal remains a critical aspect of the case.