December 30, 1999
Ashley Freeman is celebrating her birthday at home with her parents and best friend Lauria Bible. No one expected the night to end with a trailer fire, a double murder, and the disappearance of Ashley and Lauria.
I cannot wrap my head around this investigation at all.
When the sheriff's office arrived on scene, they all immediately took a step back. They knew the Freeman family. Earlier that year, Shane Freeman (Ashley's brother) was shot to death by their very own men. Which created an unthinkable story, concocted by the sheriff's office, revolving around the events of December 30th. They believed upon searching the residence that there was one body found, presumably Ashley's mother, Kathy. They believed her father, Danny had set his house on fire before taking the girls hostage as a way to get the sheriff's office to give him information on Shane's death. Therefore, a search party for the missing girls wasn't necessary.
That all changed early the next morning when Lorene and Jay Bible, Lauria's parents, walked into the charred remains of the Freeman's trailer and spotted Danny's burned body. They wanted answers and they wanted them now. Where were the girls since they obviously weren't with Danny?
Word seems to get around in small town Oklahoma. But for some reason Lorene was getting nowhere by working with law enforcement. The Bible's have investigated on their own, followed up leads, even created a facebook page, Find Lauria Bible-BBI for people to reach out with any and all information.
In 2018, they finally found who was responsible for this tragedy.
David Pennington, Phil Welch, and Ronnie Busick.
While Pennington and Welch have both passed away years before, Ronnie is now left to provide law enforcement with answers. He can describe the horrifying details leading up to the girls disappearance and supposed deaths but he can't seem to remember where they are now.
It's been nearly 22 years since Ashley and Lauria went missing.
There is still a $50,000 reward in place.
Tips can be submitted to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation: 1-800-522-8017 or tips@osbi.ok.gov
Donations are welcome Lauria and Ashley Scholarship Program
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