09/05/2026
I had just finished reading this book after Christmas this year… when I went to Find Lauria Bible-BBI page (it was so cold out) and posted that day was about how at the time the girls disappeared her family was wondering if they were warm 💔
27 years of wondering where your little girl is …
If you have any information leading to the whereabouts of these girls, there is still a $50,000 reward out and you can remain anonymous free from prosecution ‼️
It's been a long time since I shared a post about missing teens Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman.
For anyone who doesn't know, I was honored to write the Berkley book, "Hell in the Heartland," about the real-life case of these two special girls, who disappeared in the last week of 1999.
Between Dec. 29 and 30 of that year, several men took part in breaking into the Freeman's trailer home in rural Welch, Oklahoma, during what was supposed to be a night of fun. Not only was a new year about to begin, but Dec. 29 marked Ashley's 16th birthday, and her best friend, Lauria, slept over for a night of pizza, birthday cake, and joyful birthday celebrations. In attendance were Ashley's parents, Kathy and Danny Freeman.
Instead of a typical sleepover, no less than three men — identified in 2018 as Phil Welch (deceased), David Pennington (deceased), and Ronnie Busick — helped shoot Kathy and Danny to death before setting fire to the home and taking the girls with them. More than a quarter century later, Lauria and Ashley remain unaccounted for, and you'll find few convinced that there aren't people out there who know where to find them.
Today, relatives and friends continue to seek answers to the burning question: Where are Lauria and Ashley? The families have sifted tirelessly through every tip, from serial killer confessions to false rumors, to get to the bottom of this years-long mystery, but remain empty-handed.
Searches in recent years have heavily focused on that tri-state area consisting of Northeastern Oklahoma (namely the ghost town of Picher, OK, and the surrounding areas), Southeastern Kansas (near where the suspects lived in Chetopa, KS), and Southwestern Missouri. But until family members, like those running the Find Lauria Bible-BBI page, can get concrete answers, they are just informed opinions.
Their ongoing efforts to find Lauria and Ashley continue, and loved ones invite tips of any and every kind. Someone out there has the answers, or the piece of information they deem too small to release that may actually crack the case.
In the comments, you'll find a photo of the three men identified as taking part in this quadruple murder and what they looked like back then. However, it's reasonable to believe that there were others who took part in this violent and tragic event.
Please, come forward and unburden yourselves. If you have information leading to the whereabouts of Lauria and Ashley, a $50,000 reward is still in place. YOU CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS. AND FREE OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
Thank you for reading, and thank you for your continual support of these families. Lisa Bible Brodrick Lorene Bible 🦋🦋
