Authorities search new location for remains of missing Welch girls

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The FBI and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation are leading a new search effort to locate the remains of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, two teenage girls who went missing from Welch, Oklahoma in 1999. The search is focused on abandoned mineshafts in the area, as authorities believe the girls' bodies may be located there.

Why it matters

The disappearance of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman has been one of Oklahoma's most high-profile missing persons cases for over two decades. Despite numerous searches and investigations, their remains have never been found, leaving their families and the community without closure. This latest search represents a renewed effort to finally provide answers and bring the girls home.

The details

Authorities have received new information that has led them to focus their search on abandoned mineshafts in the Welch area. The FBI and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation are leading the search effort, utilizing specialized equipment and resources to thoroughly comb through the mineshafts for any evidence or remains related to the girls' disappearance.

• The girls went missing from Welch, Oklahoma in December 1999.
• This latest search effort began on March 6, 2026.

What’s next

Authorities have stated they will continue the search of the abandoned mineshafts for as long as necessary to try and locate any evidence or remains related to the girls' disappearance.