OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, Tuesday thanked the governor for signing into a law a bill that adds accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of crimes requiring an offender to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being eligible for consideration for parole. Those convicted now will not be eligible to earn any type of credits that would reduce the sentence to below 85% of what was imposed.
House Bill 1001 is named after 16-year-olds Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, of Welch, who were kidnapped, tortured, raped and killed on New Year’s Eve 1999. Their remains have not been recovered. Ashley’s parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman, were shot to death in the crime. Their remains were found in their mobile home that had been set on fire.
“This has been such an incredibly long journey for these family members,” Bashore said. “I made a promise I would seek to strengthen the law so all perpetrators of such horrible crimes would see stricture punishment and would never get a lessened sentence simply because they’ve shown some kind of good behavior while behind bars. It’s gratifying to know going forward this will be the case.”
Bashore worked with Lorene Bible, the mother of Lauria Bible, and her cousin, Lisa Broderick, in drafting the law and seeking its passage over the last several years.
“This has been a lot of hard work by Representative Bashore and those in the Senate who worked on this,” Lorene Bible said. “We know it won’t help in Lauria and Ashley’s case, but for future families in the same position, they’ll have something they can use.”
HB1001 was authored by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, in the Senate.
“Lauria and Ashley’s Law is a critical step in ensuring that anyone involved in a murder — no matter how they’re involved — faces justice. This bill closes loopholes and makes it clear that helping someone take a life has clear consequences. I’m honored to have co-authored this bill with my colleagues, and I’m grateful to the House for helping get it across the finish line. This law is about supporting victims and their families and making sure those who aid in these crimes are held accountable.”
Bashore thanked Thompson and also thanked Michael Bergstrom, R-Adair, who worked on similar previous legislation and who taught Lauria Bible before her death. He also thanked his House and Senate Colleagues for supporting the legislation.
The measure addresses the reduced prison sentence of a man charged with accessory to felony murder in the case. Ronnie Busick in 2020 received a 10-year prison sentence with five years’ probation, but only one year supervised. Because of good-days earned while incarcerated as well as time credited while in a county jail, Busick was released after just three years in prison. He was released back into the community where the crimes were committed, in close proximity to where family members of the victims still live.
It is reported that Busick received a lessened sentence in exchange for information leading to the discovery of the teens’ bodies. They still have not been found.
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Steve Bashore serves District 7 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Ottawa County and parts of Craig and Delaware counties.
