In a critical effort to toughen penalties for severe crimes, governor has approved the 'Lauria and Ashley's Law,' mandating murderers serve a minimum of 85% of their sentences before parole eligibility. This measure comes in response to the tragically unresolved case involving the deaths of teenagers Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman back in 1999. The new law eliminates sentence reductions for good behavior for those convicted of accessory to first or second-degree murder.
Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, expressed his gratitude for the governor's action, emphasizing the importance of stricter punishment for heinous acts, as reported by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. "This has been such an incredibly long journey for these family members," Bashore said, and further outlined his commitment to ensuring that perpetrators face the full weight of the law. Bashore, alongside the victims' relatives, has been instrumental in pushing for this legislative change over the past years.
The namesakes of the bill, Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, suffered a gruesome fate that also befell Freeman's parents. Their cases prompted the change in legislation after an outcry over the lenient sentencing of Ronnie Busick. In 2020, Busick was handed a 10-year prison term with five years' probation for accessory to felony murder, serving only three years after earning credits for good behavior and previous jail time, as per the information released by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
State Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, called the law "a critical step in ensuring that anyone involved in a murder — no matter how they’re involved — faces justice," according to her statement to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Thompson, who co-authored the bill, focused on closing loopholes to make sure accomplices to murder are held accountable. Meanwhile, Bashore also acknowledged the efforts of Sen. Michael Bergstrom, R-Adair, who formerly taught one of the victims and worked on similar legislation previously.
The law addresses the community's concern, particularly given that Busick, despite his involvement in the crime, was released to live near the victims' families. Notably, Busick's reduced sentence was part of a deal in exchange for information leading to the victims' remains, which, unfortunately, remain unfound.
