Suspicions in Welch case lead to testing of law officers

Photo Caption: Missing 16-Year-old Lauria Jaylene Bible, file photo WELCH, Okla. (AP) -- Two Craig County law officers have undergone polygraph tests in connection with

Wednesday, February 23rd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Photo Caption: Missing 16-Year-old Lauria Jaylene Bible, file photo

WELCH, Okla. (AP) -- Two Craig County law officers have undergone polygraph tests in connection with the investigation of a murder case and the disappearance of two Welch girls.

Undersheriff Mark Hayes said he and his brother, Deputy David Hayes, took the polygraph tests in the past two weeks. They were the only Craig County sheriff's officials to take the test, he said.

"I had nothing to hide," Mark Hayes said. "I feel a lot better about it since taking the polygraph. I was hesitant to get involved in it (the investigation) until then."

He said that since passing the test he has been more involved in the case by checking out what few leads exist. Danny and Kathy Freeman were found shot to death Dec. 30 in the rubble of their burned home. The Freemans' daughter, Ashley Renae Freeman, and her friend, Lauria Jaylene Bible, who was staying overnight to celebrate Ashley's 16th birthday, haven't been seen since.

Friends and relatives of Ashley Freeman have been suspicious of the handling of the case by Craig County authorities. Two years ago, David Hayes shot and killed the Freemans' 17-year-old son Shane while on duty. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation found the shooting was justified.

David Hayes encountered Freeman on a county road after a stolen vehicle the teen reportedly was driving broke down. Hayes fired when the teen reached behind his back and pulled a gun. David Hayes has not participated in the investigations of the Freemans' death or the girls' disappearance. An OSBI spokeswoman cited confidentiality rules Tuesday and would not comment about any polygraph tests.

Photo Caption: Missing 16-Year-Old Ashley Renae Freeman, file photo.