The Controversial Early Release Of Ronnie Busick: How 'Lauria And Ashley's Law' Redefined Justice In Oklahoma

The case of Ronnie Busick remains one of the most polarizing and emotionally charged legal sagas in Oklahoma's history, centered on the brutal 1999 disappearance and presumed murders of two 16-year-old girls. The controversy intensified in early 2024 when Busick, a man convicted of a serious felony in connection with the crime, was granted an early release from prison, a decision that immediately sparked public outrage and a swift legislative response across the state. This article delves into the details of the crime, Busick’s role, and the landmark law passed in his wake to prevent similar outcomes, ensuring that the pursuit of justice for victims’ families remains paramount. The story is not just about a conviction; it is about a decades-long cold case, a plea deal that brought a sliver of closure, and a subsequent legal loophole that challenged the very definition of accountability, culminating in the passage of the impactful Lauria and Ashley's Law in 2024.

Ronnie Dean Busick: Biography and Case Profile

Ronnie Dean Busick was a key figure implicated in one of Oklahoma's most notorious cold cases, the 1999 murders in Welch, Oklahoma. His eventual conviction in 2020 provided the first major break in the case after more than two decades.

• Full Name: Ronnie Dean Busick (sometimes cited as Ronald Dean Busick)
• Place of Residence (at time of charges): Wichita, Kansas
• Age at Sentencing (2020): 68 or 69 years old
• Primary Crime (Initial Charges): Four counts of First-Degree Murder, Two counts of Kidnapping, Arson, and Conspiracy.
• Final Conviction (Plea Deal): Accessory to Felony Murder in the First Degree (in connection with the deaths of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman).
• Sentence: 10 years in prison with five years of probation.
• Date of Early Release: Believed to be in early 2024 (Court records indicate a "CITE AND RELEASE WARRANT ISSUED" in March 2024).
• Co-Conspirators Implicated (but not convicted): David Pennington and the late Phil Welch.

Busick’s involvement centered on the events of December 30, 1999, in Welch, a small town in Craig County, Oklahoma. That night, the home of Danny and Kathy Freeman was set on fire. Inside, the remains of the Freemans were found, both having been shot execution-style. Their 16-year-old daughter, Ashley Freeman, and her best friend, Lauria Bible, were missing. Their bodies have never been recovered, a fact that has haunted the families and investigators for over 20 years.

The 1999 Welch Murders and the Road to a Plea Deal

The disappearance of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman became a national tragedy and a persistent cold case that drew attention from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and countless true-crime enthusiasts. For years, there were few solid leads, and the case remained stalled, leaving the families of the victims, especially the parents of Lauria Bible, Loretta and Jay Bible, in agonizing limbo.

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The breakthrough came nearly two decades later, in 2018, when Ronnie Busick was arrested. Investigators alleged that Busick, along with two other men, David Pennington and Phil Welch (who died in 2007), was present during the murders of Danny and Kathy Freeman and the subsequent kidnapping, torture, and murder of the two teenage girls. The District Attorney Matt Ballard detailed the horrific final days of the girls, providing a grim picture of their fate.

Facing the initial charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping, Busick ultimately accepted a plea agreement in 2020. He pleaded guilty to the lesser, but still serious, charge of accessory to felony murder. This conviction was a bittersweet moment for the families. While it was a legal acknowledgment of the crime and Busick's role, the plea deal meant he received a relatively short 10-year prison sentence, with the promise of five years of probation afterward. Crucially, the deal did not lead to the recovery of the girls’ remains, leaving the families without a final resting place for their daughters.

The plea was accepted under the condition that Busick would cooperate with authorities, but the details of that cooperation, particularly regarding the location of the girls' bodies, have remained shrouded in mystery and frustration. The case highlighted the difficult choices prosecutors often face: accept a plea for a conviction and some truth, or risk a trial where justice might not be served at all.

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The Controversial Early Release and Lauria and Ashley's Law (HB 1001)

The true shockwave in the Ronnie Busick Oklahoma case hit in early 2024 when it was confirmed that Busick was being released from prison early. Due to Oklahoma's "good time" credits and other sentencing structures, Busick was able to earn time off his 10-year sentence. He ultimately served only a fraction of his term, sparking immediate and widespread political backlash.

The early release was viewed by many, including the victims’ families and state lawmakers, as a profound injustice that re-victimized the families of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman. State Senator Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, publicly voiced his strong opposition to the release, calling it a "travesty." The public outcry was not ignored by the Oklahoma Legislature.

In a direct response to Busick's release, Oklahoma lawmakers drafted and passed House Bill 1001, officially known as Lauria and Ashley's Law. The bill was championed by Representative Steve Bashore, R-Miami, and was designed to close the very loophole that allowed Busick to walk free after a short time. The core of the new legislation is to restrict the eligibility for "good time" credits for certain violent offenders.

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The law specifically adds the crime of accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of offenses that disqualify an inmate from receiving earned credits that would reduce their time served. This action ensures that individuals convicted of such heinous crimes, even through a plea deal, must serve a greater percentage of their court-mandated sentence. The passage of Lauria and Ashley's Law in 2024, which is set to take effect on November 1, is a monumental step in criminal justice reform in Oklahoma, directly born from the tragic case and the perceived failure of the system to hold Busick fully accountable.

The legislative victory provides a measure of solace to the families, ensuring that the legacy of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman will forever be tied to a stronger justice system in Oklahoma. However, the ultimate justice—finding the girls' remains—still eludes them, keeping the Welch girls murder case tragically open in the hearts of their loved ones.