Deceased/Not Found OK - Lauria Bible & Ashley Freeman, both 16, Welch, 30 Dec 1999 *GUILTY* *released from prison 2023* #2

[Cagle]

Candlelight vigil honors girls on 20th anniversary of their disappearance - KOAM

 

[TexasT]

This is the best article in a long, long while about this sad, sad case. Twenty years. Wow.

If Busick knows where the bodies are buried and gives that info up -- major plea bargain. But I doubt that he does.

He was offered two years ago & played dumb. I guess he’s content to die in prison .

 

[perkinwarbeck]

Miami News Record
20 years later, missing girls still in minds of family, friends

 

[TexasT]

Twitter

 

[JerseyGirl]

Authorities from state and federal agencies plan to meet and conduct new searches. The U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is joining the meetings and searches on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Another search planned for girls missing since 1999

 

[jaejae]

Another report about the renewed search mentioned in the above case:

https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/kansas/article239014043.html

 

[perkinwarbeck]

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement helping search for Welch girls
Jan 7 2020 -- The U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is in the Picher area.

The two day search is underway, using an underwater drone to
search flooded mine shafts reaching more than 150 feet underground.

Dozens of workers are involved in the new search.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Federal Workers Assess Picher Mine Shaft In Search For Missing Welch Girls

Workers with the Department of the Interior were back in Picher Wednesday, using special equipment to help search for two girls missing from Welch for 20 years.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is helping investigators look for the remains of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman with special equipment.

Investigators are focused on four mine shafts in Picher. Investigators said it could be a while before they know anything about what’s inside the shafts.

 

[Niner]

Friday, February 7th:
*Preliminary Hearing (@ 9am CT) - OK – Danny (40) & Kathy Freeman (37), their daughter Ashley (16) & her friend Lauria Bible (16) (Dec. 29-30, 1999, Welch; girls have not been found) - *Ronnie Dean Busick (68/37 @ time of crime) was arrested (4/22/18) & official charged (4/30/18) with 2 counts of first-degree murder with malice aforethought or accessory to 1st degree murder, 2 additional counts of 1st degree murder, 2 counts of kidnapping, and 1 count of first-degree arson or accessory to 1st degree arson. $1M bond.
Two other men, Warren Philip "Phil" Welch II (61) died in 2007 & David A. Pennington (56) died in 2015, are implicated in the deaths but have themselves died.
Jury Trial began on 12/13/19 re competency. Jury: 3 men & 3 women, with 2 alternates. 12/18/19: Found Busick competent to stand trial.
Court info from 5/11/18 thru 12/18/19 reference post #1005 here:
Still Missing - OK - Lauria Bible, 16, & Ashley Freeman, 16, Welch, 30 December 1999 *ARREST*
12/18/19 Update: Preliminary hearing on 2/7/20.

 

[Niner]

Docket:
02/07/2020 CM: L RUIZ CR: JUDGE STOUT PRESIDING. E OQUIN FOR STATE. DEF PRESENT W/ATTY G MOSLEY. PHTD SET 3/26/20 @ 9AM

Hearing:
02/07/2020 9:00am PRELIMINARY HEARING SOUNDING DOCKET Completed : 02/07/2020 Code: X

03/26/2020 9:00am PRELIMINARY HEARING TRIAL DATE

link: "STATE OF OKLAHOMA vs. BUSICK, RONNIE DEAN " (CF-2018-00056) | On Demand Court Records

 

[Luckyzmom]

As always Thanks so much Niner !

 

[Jewels53]

VINITA, Okla. — A March 26 preliminary hearing has been set for a Kansas man charged in the 1999 deaths of an Oklahoma couple and the disappearance and presumed deaths of their teenage daughter and her friend.

Craig County Court records show the hearing was scheduled Friday for Ronnie Dean Busick, 68, who is charged with killing Danny Freeman and Kathy Freeman, 16-year-old Ashley Freeman and 16-year-old Lauria Bible.

Hearing set for Kansas man charged in 1999 Oklahoma slayings

 

[Niner]

Docket:
03/24/2020 CM: NO CR: PER JUDGE STOUT, CASE RESET FOR PHTD MAY 4 & 5, 2020 @ 9:00 AM.

03/25/2020 ORDER OF CONTINUANCE

Hearings:
o3/26/2020 9:00am PRELIMINARY HEARING TRIAL DATE Continued : 03/24/2020 Code: X

05/04/2020 9:00am PRELIMINARY HEARING TRIAL DATE

05/05/2020 9:00am PRELIMINARY HEARING TRIAL DATE

link: https://www1.odcr.com/detail?court=018-&casekey=018-CF++1800056

 

[Niner]

Docket:
03/24/2020 CM: NO CR: PER JUDGE STOUT, CASE RESET FOR PHTD MAY 4 & 5, 2020 @ 9:00 AM.

03/25/2020 ORDER OF CONTINUANCE

04/06/2020 MEDICAL SHEET $91.22

04/07/2020 CM:NO CR. JUDGE STOUT PRESIDING. CASE RESET TO 6-22-20 AT 9:00 AM DUE TO COURT HOUSE BEING CLOSED.

Hearings:
05/04/2020 9:00am PRELIMINARY HEARING TRIAL DATE Completed : 04/07/2020 Code: X

05/05/2020 9:00am PRELIMINARY HEARING TRIAL DATE Completed : 04/07/2020 Code: X

06/22/2020 9:00am PRELIMINARY HEARING TRIAL DATE

link: "STATE OF OKLAHOMA vs. BUSICK, RONNIE DEAN " (CF-2018-00056) | On Demand Court Records

 

[TexasT]

Oklahoma is getting back open . Let’s hope that June date isn’t reset again .

 

[Niner]

Still listed on court site as happening today....

Monday, June 22nd:
*Preliminary Hearing (@ 9am CT) - OK – Danny (40) & Kathy Freeman (37), their daughter Ashley (16) & her friend Lauria Bible (16) (Dec. 29-30, 1999, Welch; girls have not been found) - *Ronnie Dean Busick (37 @ time of crime/68/now 69) was arrested (4/22/18) & official charged (4/30/18) with 2 counts of first-degree murder with malice aforethought or accessory to 1st degree murder, 2 additional counts of 1st degree murder, 2 counts of kidnapping, and 1 count of first-degree arson or accessory to 1st degree arson. $1M bond.
Two other men, Warren Philip "Phil" Welch II (61) died in 2007 & David A. Pennington (56) died in 2015, are implicated in the deaths but have themselves died.
Jury Trial began on 12/13/19 re competency. Jury: 3 men & 3 women, with 2 alternates. 12/18/19: Found Busick competent to stand trial.
Court info from 5/11/18 thru 12/18/19 reference post #1005 here:
Still Missing - OK - Lauria Bible, 16, & Ashley Freeman, 16, Welch, 30 December 1999 *ARREST*
12/18/19 Update: Preliminary hearing on 2/7/20. 2/7/20: Next Preliminary hearing on 3/26.
3/24/20 Update: Preliminary hearing continued due to coronavirus to 5/4 & 5/5. 4/7/20: Preliminary hearings on 5/4 & 5/5 have been rescheduled due to coronavirus to 6/22.

 

[Luckyzmom]

Thanks @Niner always appreciate your work for these victims <3

 

[TexasT]

Find Lauria Bible-BBI
Movement today!

Ronnie Busick waved his rights to a preliminary hearing today.

We will reconvene on July 15th. At that time, he could enter a plea. If that happens, we could see sentencing in late August.

This is good news for us filled full of mixed emotions.

 

[Niner]

Docket:
06/22/2020 CM: L. RUIZ CM: JUDGE STOUT PRESIDING. STATE PRESENT BY ISAAC SHIELDS. DEF PRESENT WITH ATTY GRETCHEN MOSLEY. DE SWORN AND ADVISED OF RIGHTS. DEF WAIVES PRELIMINARY HEARING. CASE IS SET FOR DCA 7-15-2020 @ 10:30 AM WITH JUDGE TAYLOR.

06/22/2020 WAIVER OF PRELIMINARY HEARING

Hearings:
06/22/2020 9:00am PRELIMINARY HEARING TRIAL DATE Completed : 06/22/2020 Code: X

07/15/2020 10:30am MD DISTRICT COURT ARRAIGNMENT

link: "STATE OF OKLAHOMA vs. BUSICK, RONNIE DEAN " (CF-2018-00056) | On Demand Court Records

 

[Niner]

Plea agreement may be pending in case of man accused in 1999 Northeast Oklahoma cold case

June 22, 2020

NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA — A plea agreement may be pending in the case of the man accused in a 1999 Northeast Oklahoma cold case.

58-year-old Ronnie Dean Busick appeared in Craig County court this morning where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

He’s scheduled to be back in court for arraignment July 15th, when he may enter a plea to accessory to murder.

A representative with the District Attorney’s Office says as part of the deal, Busick will have to provide details leading to the whereabouts of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman.

It’s unclear how much prison time he will serve in exchange for that information.