Introduction

Laura Bible and Ashley Freeman grew up in Vanita, a town in Craig County, Oklahoma. Laura was born on the 8th of April 1983; Ashley was born later that year,. They formed an instant bond and were basically inseparable ever since. The girls attended the same schools and spent every waking minute together throughout their early school years. But then in 1995, Ashley's parents decided to make a move to Welsh, about 32 kilometres away - or 20 miles. It was a testing time for the girls' friendship, but they got through it. In 1998, Shane ran away from home because his father had whipped him for disobeying him. He reported to the local deputy that he had