Latest news with #LauriaandAshleyLaw
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Law on stiffer penalties for accessory to murder heads to governor's desk
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma Senators voted Wednesday to send Lauria and Ashley's Law to the governor's desk. House Bill 1001 was authored by Rep. Steve Bashore (R-Miami) and passed through the House easily in March. It would require anyone convicted of accessory to murder to serve at least 85% of their sentence before they are considered for parole. The law was named after Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman. The two teenage girls were kidnapped and murdered in Welch in 1999. Their bodies were never found. 'Lauria and Ashley Law' adds harsher penalty for 'accessory' to murder Lorene Bible, Lauria's mother, was at the Capitol on Wednesday. She has been working with lawmakers on the legislation for three years. 'It's what we've been striving for all along,' said Lorene. Lisa Bible Brodrick is Lorene's niece and has been an advocate for the family. 'We didn't really get the victory that we'd hoped for in the girls' case, but it does feel like a small victory for families in the future,' said Bible Brodrick. 'That's a really great feeling.' Ronnie Busick was convicted of 'accessory' in the case of the missing girls. He was there the night they went missing and spent only three years in prison. He was released for good behavior.'It was an insult to the girls. It was an insult to the community. It was an insult to the parents,' said Sen. Micheal Bergstrom (R-Adair). Bergstrom shared his personal attachment to the piece of legislation before the vote on the Senate floor.'Lauria Bible was my student,' said Bergstrom. 'I had her in my class as an English teacher. She was a wonderful kid who laughed and had a great deal of joy.' The law might not be able to help in Bible and Freeman's case, but it will make a difference, in their honor, for years to come.'We're still fighting on their behalf so it doesn't happen to somebody else,' said Lorene. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lauria and Ashley's Law Passes Second Hurdle
OKLAHOMA CITY – A proposed bill aimed at keeping felons convicted of 'accessory to murder' from early release is moving to the Oklahoma House floor. During Thursday's Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee hearing, Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, argued that House Bill 1001, or the Lauria and Ashley Law, 'makes you stay in prison where you belong.' Oklahoma representative refiles 'Lauria and Ashley' legislation The proposed bill adds accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of crimes that require offenders to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being eligible for parole consideration. Bashore said that felons would not be eligible to earn any credit that would reduce the sentence below 85% of what was imposed. If passed, 'Lauria and Ashley's Law' would go into effect on Nov. 1. The measure passed the committee by an 11-2 vote. The bill now goes to the House. 25 years later: Families continue search for missing Oklahoma teens The Lauria and Ashley's Law references 16-year-old best friends Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman. Danny and Kathy Freeman, Ashley's parents, were shot to death, and their mobile home was set on fire on Dec. 30, 1999. The teenagers were kidnapped from Freeman's mobile home and taken to Picher, where authorities believe they tortured, raped, drugged, and killed. It is presumed their bodies were dumped in a Picher mine pit, but their remains have never been recovered. Investigators believe Phil Welch, David Pennington, and Ronnie Buscik were behind the multiple deaths and kidnappings. The only person convicted – Busick – who pleaded guilty in 2020 to a reduced charge of accessory to felony murder, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He served three years. Busick was credited with time served in the Craig County jail and good behavior, which shaved off five years from the 10-year sentence. Phil Welch and David Pennington died before authorities could prosecute them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
