OK Senate won't hear bill tied to cold case

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – After spending the legislative session hearing and voting on numerous bill the Senate won't be deciding on a bill that would call for some stricter criminal sentencing.

House Bill 2946 (Lauria & Ashley's law) would require anyone convicted of accessory to murder to serve 85% of their sentence.

The bill is named after Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman.

The two 16-year-old's disappeared in 1999 in Craig County.

Although rescue teams searched the area where the girls were last seen, the trail went cold for years.

Recent evidence linked Ronnie Busick, Warren Phillip Welch and David Pennington to the crimes.

Welch and Pennington died before they could face a fair trail, but an arrest affidavit filed in Busick's case said that authorities believed the two girls were kidnapped, tied up, raped and held at Welch's mobile home for days before they were strangled.

Authorities have searched northeast Oklahoma, looking for the remains of the two teens, but they've never been found.

Busick received a 10-year prison sentence for his role in the case as an accessory, but earned credit for time served and was released early last year; only serving a little less than three years total.

Advocates of Lauria & Ashley's law argue a bill like it could have prevented Busick's early release and could save their victim's families more heartache.

"That's not right," said Lorene Bible, Lauria's mother. "When you're an accessory to murder and you did nothing to get help for those people, you have to be held accountable."

Bible said she tries not to think back to 1999, but that Busick's early release is still fresh; and makes things difficult to process.

She said the the best she can do to honor Lauria and Ashley is to make sure another family doesn't have to go through what they have.

The bill has had a successful voting history so far, passing in the House with a majority, before going to a Senate judiciary committee and passing there too.

Bible said it appeared things were looking hopeful for the Senate to discuss the bill on the floor and vote Thursday, but that she got a message Wednesday that wouldn't be the case.

"This was the last thing to get it settled and to go forward," said Bible. "Now they say that they don't have time."

Bible said she understood there were numerous bills that didn't get heard this legislative session, but that she felt bills that prioritize victims and their families should be given a fair shake.

"Last night, first time I've ever had that type of a feeling, I failed as a parent to protect my child."

Despite the bill not being on Thursday's agenda, Bible still made a trip to the State Capitol to visit with legislators and share more information about the bill.

"This was to keep someone that was there when people were killed off the streets, to protect your family, because this could be anybody's family," said Bible.

News 4 also spoke with the bill's author Rep. Steve Bashore (R-Miami) who said he's in disbelief the bill has been iced out as well.

"We're voted to be here by the people," said Bashore. "We're here until we get the people's work accomplished.

Bashore said it was difficult to relay the news to Bible when he got it Wednesday. He believes not hearing it all does a disservice to the victims and their families.

"They come to Oklahoma City and yet they're slapped in the face once again," said Bashore. "This is about keeping people in jail that need to be in jail."

Bashore said it's also surprising to him legislators would let the get the bill cover so much ground without at least hearing it out.

"Put it up and see if it passes," said Bashore. "If it fails, it fails. At least put it up and give it a chance."

Bashore told News 4 he planned to file the bill again in time for the next legislative. In the meantime, he said the focus should be on continued education of what the bill is trying to do.

Bible said she's not willing to give up and will push on for Lauria and Ashley's sake.

"I don't let those emotions come forward because [Lauria's] there," said Bible. "If I fall apart, who's going to fight?"