Account
Apr 15, 2010
Feb 26, 2024
Lauria
Bible
41
16
65 inches
130 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
On the night of December 29, 1999, 16-year-old Lauria Bible was celebrating her best friend Ashley Freeman's 16th birthday with a sleepover at the Freeman's mobile home in Welch, Oklahoma. The following morning, on December 30, 1999, a fire engulfed the Freeman residence. After the blaze was extinguished, the remains of Ashley's parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman, were discovered inside. Both had been shot to death. Of Lauria and Ashley, there was no sign. Lauria's car was still parked outside, and her purse containing her driver's license and money was found inside the home, suggesting the girls had not left willingly. The initial investigation was fraught with confusion, with law enforcement at first suspecting that Danny Freeman had killed his wife and fled with the two teenagers. However, that theory was quickly dispelled when Danny's body was also found in the burned-out trailer. For years, the case went cold, leaving the families of Lauria and Ashley in a state of agonizing uncertainty. Various theories circulated, including the possibility of a random attack or a targeted act related to the Freeman family. The investigation saw several false leads, including confessions from convicted killers Tommy Lynn Sells and Jeremy Jones, which were later recanted. A significant breakthrough finally came in 2018, nearly two decades after the girls vanished. Investigators identified three suspects: Ronnie Dean Busick, Warren Phillip "Phil" Welch II, and David Pennington. Welch and Pennington had both died by the time they were officially named as suspects. Busick was arrested and charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of first-degree arson. The renewed investigation revealed a dark and disturbing motive behind the horrific events. It is believed that the three men went to the Freeman's home over a drug debt. After murdering Danny and Kathy Freeman, they set the mobile home on fire and abducted Lauria and Ashley. According to witness testimonies that emerged years later, the two girls were held captive, assaulted, and ultimately murdered. There were even reports of Polaroid pictures showing the girls bound and gagged. In 2020, Ronnie Busick pleaded guilty to being an accessory to first-degree murder. He was sentenced to ten years in prison but was released in May 2023 after serving a portion of his sentence. Despite Busick's conviction and the identification of the other perpetrators, the remains of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman have never been found. Numerous searches have been conducted over the years in various locations, including mine shafts and root cellars, based on tips and information from Busick, but none have led to the recovery of the girls. The case is an overview of a tragic and complex investigation that began with a house fire and the discovery of a double homicide, leading to a nearly two-decade-long search for two missing teenagers and the eventual identification of their killers. While one of the perpetrators was brought to justice, the lack of closure for the families, as the location of Lauria and Ashley's remains is still unknown, underscores the enduring pain and unanswered questions that surround this case.
Dec 30, 1999
Welch
Oklahoma
Craig County
74369
Yes
26413
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation - Northeast Investigative Regional Office
Tulsa
Oklahoma
Tulsa County
74119
125 West 15th Street #100, Tulsa, OK 74119, Oklahoma
9185829075
State
Law Enforcement
Craig County Sheriff's Office
Brown
Hazel
Hazel
06/14/2026
