WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) -- One of the five suspects charged with the murders of two Kansas mothers earlier this year is separating himself from the other suspects' court appearances, at least for a while. On Wednesday, Paul Grice waived his right to a preliminary hearing and to a speedy trial. His next court date is Feb. 19, 2025. The other four suspects will be in court for their preliminary hearings on Dec. 17. Their hearings are being consolidated even though some of them fought the idea. During a preliminary hearing, prosecutors present evidence and witnesses in an attempt to prove there is probable cause that a defendant committed a crime and should be tried. Documents reveal cause of death for Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley Tifany Adams, Tad Cullum, Cole and Cora Twombly, and Grice are charged in the deaths of Jilian Kelley and Veronica Butler. The two Hugoton women disappeared in March while they were going to pick up Butler's children in Oklahoma. (Courtesy: OSBI) Adams is the paternal grandmother of Butler's children, and court documents allege the group murdered the two women in Oklahoma because of a child custody dispute. The Texas County, Oklahoma, District Attorney's office is prosecuting the case. Tifany Adams (Courtesy: OSBI)Tad Bert Cullum (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation via AP)Paul Grice (Courtesy: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation / Texas County Sheriff's Department)Cole Twombly (Courtesy: OSBI)Cora Twombly Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation via AP) On Wednesday, attorneys for Adams, Cullum, Grice, and Cora Twombly argued that the preliminary hearings should be separated. Adams' attorney argued that consolidating the hearings would present the court with a mountain of evidence, and issues could arise when figuring out which evidence and exhibits go to which defendants. "We recommend the court eats the elephant one bite at a time," the attorney said. Cullum's attorney expressed concern that the medical examiner's report would not be ready 10 days before the preliminary hearing, denying the defense attorneys enough time to review it. Prosecutors said they are issuing a subpoena for the medical examiner. Kansas DCF denies records request in case where child’s remains found Cole Twombly was the only suspect whose attorney did not request a separate preliminary hearing. In the end, Judge Clark Jett agreed with the Texas County DA's request to consolidate the hearings. He said he has not found any cases that prove consolidation would impede the parties' rights. "Secure in the knowledge that the examining magistrate has been and will continue to be assisted in the proper performance of his duties by excellent lawyers and excellent lawyering, these cases are consolidated for purpose of preliminary hearing," Jett wrote in his decision. After Wednesday's decision, Grice and his two attorneys had a separate hearing with Jett. It was during that separate hearing that Grice waived his right to a preliminary hearing and speedy trial.