logo
Shutterstock | Twitter.com/TiffanyAlaniz
Shutterstock | Twitter.com/TiffanyAlaniz

Mom Continues to Search for Closure after Her Teenage Daughter's Murder in 1999

Laura Beatham
May 27, 2021
01:50 P.M.

A mom is still searching for the remains of her teenage daughter, who went missing with her best friend over 20 years ago.

Advertisement

A mother, Lorene Bible, is not giving up on finding the remains of her daughter, Lauria Bible, and her best friend Ashley Freeman after they went missing during a sleepover in December 1999.

Lauria and Ashley were two 16-year-old girls from rural Oklahoma. The two were best friends and inseparable from the moment they attended the same kindergarten. So it was no surprise that Lauria wanted to spend Ashley's birthday with her.

A closeup of a police vehicle's lights. | Photo: Shutterstock

A closeup of a police vehicle's lights. | Photo: Shutterstock

On December 29, 1999, Lauria went over to the Freeman family's mobile home to celebrate Ashley's birthday with cake and a sleepover. Her father told her to be home the next day by noon, but that would never be the case.

At 5:00 in the morning on December 30, police and firefighters responded to a fire at the Freemans' mobile home. Later, officers would find the burnt bodies of Ashley's parents, Kathy and Danny Freeman.

Advertisement

The couple had been killed by gunshot, and their house set ablaze by three men, Phil Welch, Ronnie Busick, and David Pennington. The man had killed them over a drug debt.

However, Lauria and Ashley were not in the trailer. To this day, Police and Lauria's family have not found the remains of the girls, despite various searches being conducted over the years.

Although the girls' bodies remain missing, the circumstance behind their disappearance is partially known.

Advertisement

As recently as April 2021, searches continued in Picher to look for the remains of the teenagers. The search was moved to an area where one of the suspected kidnappers moved to, two weeks after the girls went missing.

People reported that the dig site was a dead-end as no remains were found. However, Lorene has stayed undeterred. She shared her optimism for finding closure for her daughter's murder to the outlet.

Advertisement

Lorene said that although the dig was not successful, it "puts out there for everybody to know, 'Hey, we're still looking for these two girls." She explained that people message her Facebook page with various details they remember from all those years ago.

Lorene stated that they only need the right text or conversation to lead them to their beloved daughter and her friend. The family will continue to fight for Lauria until they can bring both girls home.

Advertisement

Although the girls' bodies remain missing, the circumstance behind their disappearance is partially known. Police understand that the people responsible for Freeman's deaths are also responsible for the disappearance of the two girls.

In fact, in 2020, Busick, 69, pled guilty to being an accessory for the murders of Ashley's parents. However, he denied any connection to the kidnapping and murder of Lauria and Ashley. Pennington and Welch are both dead.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Related posts

Riley Strain Disappeared after Going out with Friends on March 8 – His Devastated Mom Speaks Out as Massive Search Continues

March 21, 2024

Riley Strain’s Devastated Family Orders Second Autopsy, Questioning Initial Finding of No Foul Play

March 28, 2024

Girl Found Dead in the Woods Days after 13th Birthday — Suspect Caught on Camera with Her Backpack & Laptop

March 05, 2024

Madeline Soto, 13, Found Dead in Florida: Why Focus Turns to Her Mom despite a Main Suspect Being Detained

March 08, 2024

23-Year-Old Man Goes Missing During Cruise After Sending Final Message to Wife, Leaving Her Heartbroken

March 27, 2024

Why the Olsen Sisters Left Hollywood at the Peak of Their Fame and What They Do Now – Details

July 03, 2024

‘1923’ Actor Cole Brings Plenty, 27, Found Dead in Kansas Woods – His Family Speaks Out

April 08, 2024

Everything We Know about Baltimore Bridge Crash Victims

March 28, 2024

Girl Wakes up from Coma and Says, 'I Know the Truth about My Mom' — Story of the Day

April 03, 2024

Survivor of Baltimore Bridge Collapse Speaks Out Following ‘Miraculous’ Escape from Death

March 28, 2024

Fearless Mom Fights Alleged Kidnapper to Save Her Daughter

March 26, 2024

Our Daughter Vanished after Staying with My Mom – When We Found Her, Her Reason for Leaving Shattered Our Family

April 02, 2024

What Happened to Morgan Freeman's Granddaughter, Who Suddenly Died at 33?

May 29, 2024

My Mom Abandoned Me Right after Birth - 21 Years Later, My Grandma Gave Me Key from Her with Answers

April 03, 2024