13-03-2025
‘Lauria and Ashley Law' adds harsher penalty for ‘accessory' to murder
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Lawmakers at the Capitol voted on a bill on the House floor Wednesday that would require criminals convicted of 'accessory' to murder to serve at least 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole.
House Bill 1001 was authored by Rep. Steve Bashore (R-Miami). The bill would be called 'Lauria and Ashley's Law.'
Bashore has been working with Lorene Bible, the mother of Lauria Bible, on the legislation. Lauria disappeared along with her friend Ashley Freeman in 1999 in Welch, Oklahoma.
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'House Bill 1001 is a bill we passed very easily last year on the floor but didn't receive a hearing in the Senate,' said Bashore. 'Simply Lauria and Ashley's Law requires someone convicted of accessory to murder to serve 85% of their time without any eligibility for early release.'
The bill passed with majority support. Bible was seated in the gallery when House members voted on the legislation.
'I will do whatever it takes so another family doesn't have to bring people to justice to see them get out,' said Bible.
Ronnie Busick was the man convicted of 'accessory' to the double murder of Lauria and Ashley. He was freed after less than three years in prison due to good behavior.'This person stood there while all this was happening to these two girls and did not do anything to get them help or let somebody know where they could go find these two girls,' said Bible. 'This is not about politics. This is a mother, a father, grandparents, and uncles. They have a loved one that disappears off the face of the earth.'
Senate Bill 631, authored by Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, passed through the Senate Wednesday.
It would add shooting into a home or building to the list of crimes that would require 85% of a person's sentence be served before being eligible for parole.
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