The search for the remains of Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible in a former basement yielded nothing on Tuesday, thwarting Oklahoma researchers hoping to wipe out the girls’ families 20 years after their disappearance.
Women aged 16 were last seen on 29 December 1999. On December 30, police said Ronnie Dean Busick, Warren Philip “Phil” Welch II and David A. Pennington went into Freeman’s space and killed Ashley’s parents, Danny and Kathy. Freeman, before you burn down your cell home. Lauria was sleeping in Ashley’s space that night, and the women were never seen again. Investigators were killed some time after they were last noticed, but their remains were never found.
On Tuesday, Lauria’s mother reacted to the news of a failed search.
“For me, for 20 years of ups and downs, from the most sensible to the lowest, you don’t awaken all your hopes because you put all your religion on that day because, in the end, it’s not here,” Lorene Bible said. KTUL in Tulsa.
Investigators pointed to his most recent studies of Picher’s former basement after being driven there through Busick, the well-known living user linked to the case, who in July pleaded guilty to a reduced rate of complicity in the murder. If Busick is helping investigators locate the girls’ bodies until August 31, their sentence may be reduced.
“I’m pretty sure [Busick] will tell us what he can basically, because it’s in his most productive interest,” Ottawa County District Attorney Gary Stansill said at a news convention Tuesday. “If women recover for everything it gives us, their sentence will be reduced. So I think he’s trying, to what extent, I don’t know.”
After failing the girls’ remains in the basement, investigators plan to search for 3 mineholes.
The case has generated renewed media interest due to the August 31 deadline, but researchers have that even if the remains of the girls are not discovered before that date, they will not avoid the search.
“At all times we are going to do our study efforts, we still have to get those women back, so even though there may not be many means after 31, after the date of their conviction, don’t let the appeals end.” Tammy Ferrari, an investigation officer at the Oklahoma State Office, said at the press conference. “We will do our study efforts at all times, so please don’t women.”
RELATED STORIES
Welch girls missing: Investigators dig a basement in search of Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible remains
Man arrested in bloodless homicide case of about 20 years of teenagers and partner
What happened to Annie McCarrick? The prime suspect in 1993, the disappearance of a bloodless case could possibly have been identified
Write to us: [email protected]
Call us: (212) 817-5555