PICHER, Okla. — It’s another dig — keeping hope alive that two missing teenage girls from Welch might still be found. Find Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman – it’s the single goal bringing dozens of investigators back to Picher.
“Well, every day you got to do something to try to bring these girls home,” said Lorene Bible, Lauria’s Mom.
It’s the 15th dig, at least, this time at two sites in the mostly abandoned town. The College Street location is central to the case.
“Where the Memorial site is, that’s where the trailer that the girls were held in is so they’ve decided to go with focus and make sure that there’s nothing there,” said Bible.
Crews used ground penetrating radar and a drone to get a different view of the dig site. It’s a repeat visit focusing this time on the porch-like add-on to the trailer home, as well as an old septic system.
“We had received some information recently about a possible hole that was underneath there, underneath mobile home so we want to just make sure that the couldn’t have been buried underneath a mobile home,” said Gary Stansill, Craig Co. DA’s Investigator.
The search did not turn up anything substantial.
Crews also searched an old root cellar about a block south of the memorial site. It’s a second dig on the site, which was successful this time. While investigators did find several items including a shirt and a bone – they are not believed to be connected to the case.
“It’s making sure that we know, we don’t ‘well, that spot that we missed, that spot that we missed.’ Well, now that spot we’ve checked it 100% they’re not here and continue on,” said Bible.
“The person that was convicted on this – Ronnie Busick – said he had thought they might be in a root cellar. He wasn’t for sure. And so this is about the only one left that we know of in this area, and we researched it in the back, and in the past, determined this may have been not occupied at the time,” said Stansill.
Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman went missing in 1999, at the same time the Freeman mobile home was set on fire and Ashley’s parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman, were killed.
The Hornet or Joplin Spook Light appears on a dirt road south of Joplin, Missouri. (Photo Courtesy: Lisa Livingston-Martin)
OTTAWA COUNTY, Okla. (KSNF/KODE) — Since it was first mentioned in a publication more than a century ago, many names have been given to the mysterious, dancing or flickering light, that to this day, people continually claim to have witnessed. The light is known as The Joplin Spook Light, Tri-State Spook Light, and the Hornet Spook Light; all of them named in connection to the area where it was discovered.
According to paranormal investigator and author, Lisa Livingston-Martin, the Spook Light is usually seen during the evening or nighttime hours and is most often described as an orange ball of light. People who’ve seen it say the orb usually travels from east to west along a four-mile road between Missouri and Oklahoma, called “Spook Light Road” or “The Devil’s Promenade” near Quapaw, Oklahoma.
| Want To Know Where to Find “Spook Light Road?” Keep Reading To Find Out!
“The ball of fire,” as it’s sometimes described, varies from the size of a baseball to a basketball. While doing research on the local Spook Light, Livingston-Martin conducted many interviews with those claiming to have seen the mysterious orb. Some say the light dances and spins down the center of the road (sometimes at high speeds), rising and hovering above the trees before disappearing in the blink of an eye. Others reported it swaying from side to side, like a lantern being carried by an invisible being. According to most witnesses, the Spook Light strays from large groups and loud sounds.
The apparent nighttime sighting of a mysterious, glowing orb known as the Joplin or Tri-State Spook Light.
There are many legends, stories and science-based theories that attempt to explain what this spooky, dancing ball of light could be. It’s believed that Native Americans of the Cherokee Tribe were the first to see the Spook Light, while traveling along the Trail of Tears. One of the oldest legends says it’s the ghost of an Osage chief who was murdered somewhere in that area.
The Ghost Miner
One legend is about a local miner: “A miner comes home one night, only to discover that his family was missing and his cabin burned to the ground, perhaps by Native Americans. Now, the ghost of the miner roams the road (Spooklight Road) at night with a lantern in his hand, searching for his family,” Livingston-Martin explained.
Native American Spirits
According to Livingston-Martin, the most common folklore tale says the light’s glow comes from the spirits of two young lovers within the Quapaw Native American Tribe — a woman and a man who married against her father’s wishes. At her father’s request, the couple was chased through the forest by warriors of their tribe, until the two came to a large cliff above Spring River. With no where to run, the couple held hands as they jumped into the river below, plunging to their deaths.
What appears to be a ball of light is captured on film, hovering above a dirt road near the Missouri-Oklahoma state line.
Car Headlights
In 1965, an investigation was conducted by the magazine, Popular Mechanics. Using binoculars in daylight, a team of investigators were able to see cars near where the Spook Light supposedly originates. This explanation was summarized by a quote from one of the investigators: “I think what’s happening is cars… are coming down the long highway (Route 66), and we’re seeing headlights or tail lights five miles away.”
Advocates of the “car headlight” theory said it’s accurate and they could recreate it with a man-made light that corresponded to the appearance of the Spook Light. “This particular theory doesn’t account for the 99% of reported sightings. The first reports of the Spook Light come from a time when cars weren’t in existence yet, so lights from a vehicle is not what everyone reports seeing,” said Livingston-Martin.
Swamp Gas
“Swamp gas just doesn’t make any sense,” claimed Livingston-Martin. “As to the theory of escaping natural gas, which is common in marshy areas, the Joplin/Hornet Light is seemingly not affected by wind or by rain, and how would it self-ignite?”
Lisa Livingston-Martin said there’s one possible explanation that’s not as easily discounted. It’s also not yet proven to be conclusive. “To be honest, I think it has something to do with geology. The best theory we have, in my opinion, is the Spook Light is the product of electrical atmospheric charges,” said Livingston-Martin.
The Spook Light is more than just a phenomenon restricted to the Devil’s Promenade. Witnesses describe similar, mysterious lights in several areas across the United States, which leads her to believe it’s likely a geologic phenomenon. “In areas where rocks, deep below the earth’s surface, are shifting and grinding, an electrical charge can be created. This area, lying on a fault line running east from New Madrid, Missouri, westward to Oklahoma, was the site of four earthquakes during the 1700’s. These types of electrical fields are most commonly associated with earthquakes,” explained Livingston-Martin.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES – JOPLIN SPOOK LIGHT
A nighttime photo from the mid-1900’s, shows two women looking at a distant object that’s thought to be the mysterious Joplin Spook Light.
On KSN’s Living Well with Gary Bandy and Shelby Neely, the following question was asked: “Have you ever seen the Joplin Spook Light? If so, what was your experience?” Here’s what some had to say, by posting their response on the KSN Living Well Facebook Page.
Dominic A. — “Use to go to it there all the time when it was open to public, I believe I’ve seen it on more than one occasion.”
Mike R. — “We used to go a lot when I was in high school way back in the 1960s. It was just a dirt road. It was fun to take dates to Spooky’s Museum and then park along the side of the road to watch for it. I guess we saw it. It always seemed so far away it was hard to tell.“
Gaye-Alan W. — “1957 with my parents. A light came up the road, stayed at least 15 minutes, split into 2 lights, 1 moved around briefly then joined back together. Eventually returned to its original destination till it faded out of sight. Scary but not. You wanted to keep watching.“
Linda S. — “Grew up not far from the Spook Light – I’ve seen it many times.“
Carlene J. — “Saw it every time I went, late 70s early 80s.haven’t been in years, and also had to go to SPOOKY’s before and after.“
Julie F. — “I went to see it probably 25 years ago but never saw it. Always wanted to see it but never did.“
Timothy W. — “Was there back in the late 60’s and early 70’s. We did see it. Came up the road then just disappeared. Always wanted to go back and take the kids. Nowadays I don’t remember exactly how to get there.“
J.D. S. — “We don’t live very far from Spook Light road. It’s not anything like it was years ago. It’s all paved now.“
Monte C. — “It got on the hood of our car. I would call it a ball of energy more than being a light. We honked the horn and it left. It was about the size of a baseball.“
Buster & Joyce Y. — “Couple of times, a light that split, moved around, then disappeared when we tried to get closer.“
Charla O. — “Yes, Mom and Dad would take us to see it in the 60’s. Dad made fudge and we made a night of it. One time it came right up to our car and he decided to step out of the car! Us three sisters and brother all screamed! It disappeared and showed up in a field right next to our car but there was two of them. It was amazing watching them dance together in the field next to our car! Now the road is paved and lots of houses. Haven’t seen it since. You can’t stop and park and turn out your lights and wait for the spook light to show up. Sad..“
Kevin E. — “My mom lived in a house on the road where the Spook Light was and it would come up the driveway.“
Donna D. — “Yes, something I can’t even explain!“
Diana M. — “Yep! It followed us over the hills.“
Dennis C. — “Never!“
Jack F. — “I literally live a mile and a half from Spook Light. I’ve never seen it. Of course, I’m not looking for it either.“
Melia E. — “I saw it several times in the early 90’s. Typically reminded me of a motorcycle coming up the road until it was close enough for me to realize there was no motorcycle. Once it bounced around on our car hood.“
Ron R. — “Never seen it.“
Rusty F. — “Saw it split in two during the early 70s…won’t say who I was with…“
Linda V. — “We saw a light, but couldn’t tell if it was just a porch light. It never came close to us.“
Author and paranormal investigator, Lisa Livingston-Martin is pictured here, along with her published works.
The primary source for information published in this article comes from author and paranormal investigator, Lisa Livingston-Martin who spent many years researching the Joplin Spook Light. Lisa also runs a company based in Southwest Missouri, called Paranormal Science Lab. PSL offers a variety of services to individuals, businesses and historic sites, including private research and investigations, educational programs and public history tours and ghost hunts. PSL’s website can be found, HERE. You can also visit their Facebook Page, HERE.
Want to know where to find the location of the Joplin/Hornet Spook Light? The answer can be found in here.
If you’re looking for more information on the Joplin Spook Light, this article includes several interesting stories from those who claim to have see it.
Published in this article are some personal Spook Light stories that are told in great detail.
GROVE, Okla. – Grand Lake is adding another water-based tourist attraction to its tacklebox of fun activities.
Grove city officials are bringing ice skating to Grand Lake just in time for the holiday season. The ice rink will be in downtown Grove, said Debbie Bottoroff, Grove city manager.
“We are still working on the logistics, but it will be in place by the first of December,” Bottoroff said. There will be ice skates to rent and a nominal fee to skate, she said.
“We hope to bring visitors to downtown Grove to enjoy the Christmas lights, shopping, eating and sipping on hot chocolate and ice skating.”
Bottorff said initially the city staff submitted the idea to the city’s Convention and Tourism Bureau to rent an ice skating ring. “It was discovered during research that it would be cheaper just to buy an ice-skating ring,” she added.
The $47,000 skating ring can be used for special events and the holiday season year after year.
JAY, Okla. – A criminal jury trial begins Monday for a Jay man accused of sexually abusing a child.
Douglas Jackson, 72, is charged with sexual abuse of a child under 12-years-of-age and lewd molestation. If convicted Jackson could face up to a life sentence.
Winston Connor II, Jackson’s attorney, said prosecutors failed to investigate the allegations properly and had they done so charges would not have been filed.
The victim, now a teenager, said the sexual abuse started around four or five years old and lasted until they were eight years old, according to an arrest affidavit filed in 2019. The victim said the alleged abuse stopped when the family moved out of state. Before the family left Oklahoma, the victim said Jackson said “he was going to miss making her ‘feel good,’” the affidavit states.
Jackson denied the allegations when confronted by the victim’s family, the affidavit states.
The victim’s mother told authorities the family fears Jackson “because he owns a large assortment of firearms,” the affidavit states. After Jackson learned of the criminal allegations, he “vocalized to family members he will ‘have a shootout’ with anyone, including police, if they come on his property.” Jackson also allegedly “threatened to shoot family member in the past,” the affidavit states.
Another victim told law enforcement officers, Jackson also sexually abused her when she was six or seven years old. This alleged abuse occurred at Jackson’s Arkansas residence, the affidavit states. Those incidents were reported to the Arkansas authorities by the investigating officer.
Jackson was charged in Nov. 2019 but due to the COVID pandemic several court dates and proceedings were delayed. He is free on $150,000 bond, according to court records.
MIAMI, Okla. – Modoc Nation Chief Bill G. Follis died on Friday, according to a family statement. Follis, the longest-serving Chief of the Modoc Nation, died at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. He was 89.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Follis began his tenure as Chief of the Tribe in 1972 and was instrumental in the restoration of Modoc Nation to federal recognition in 1978. He oversaw the growth of the Modoc Nation as a government and the establishment of numerous support programs for the Modoc people.
President Gerald Ford and Follis Chief Bill Follis Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, and Follis
Education, health initiatives, child and elder care, and housing support programs were at the forefront of his priorities and his accomplished benefits to the Modoc people.
Chief Follis had a common saying “we will give you a hand up, but not a handout.”
“Chief Bill Follis was a fierce advocate for the Modoc Nation and all of Indian Country during his lifetime, said Billy Friend, Wyandotte Nation Chief. “His leadership helped build the foundation of success that the Modoc Nation enjoys today.”
Chief Follis leaves behind a great legacy that will impact the next seven generations of the Modoc people, Friend said.
Follis served on various boards, including the Oklahoma State University Foundation, Rogers State University, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Task Force under the Administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, the Claremore Indian Hospital, the Northeastern Indian Tribal Health Clinic, and he served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Commission on Indian Affairs.
“Chief Follis was not only a great leader, but he was a fine gentleman,” said Gary Batton, Choctaw Nation Chief. “Always kind and gentle, but he was very firm in his values and commitment to his tribal members and Indian Country.”
In 2008, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry and Miami Mayor Brent Brassfield proclaimed September 25 as “Chief Bill G. Follis Day” in the State of Oklahoma and the town of Miami for his years of service. In 2016 he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Oklahoma State Alumni Association and the American Indian Alumni Society.
Chief Follis negotiated a joint compact to open the Stables Casino. This joint compact was the first such agreement approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission and the Secretary of Interior.
He is survived by his wife, Janet, their two sons, Billy and Phillip, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Details on the arrangements for a celebration of life honoring Chief Follis will be released by the family at a later date.
JAY, Okla. – An Arkansas man was held over for trial on a charge of attempted animal cruelty, for throwing a dog out of a vehicle during a police chase.
David Thomas Surface, 39, of Lowell, Arkansas appeared in Delaware County District Court in Jay, Oklahoma for a preliminary hearing on charges of cruelty to animals and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
David Surface
Travis Sheppard with the Noel Marshals office testified during the 30-minute hearing.
Sheppard says he stopped Surface back in April in McDonald County for incorrect plates on his vehicle. During the traffic stop, a female passenger got out of the car and Surface took off at a high rate of speed, according to the arrest affidavit.
The chase continued into Delaware County and that’s when police say Surface threw the dog out of the vehicle while he was going nearly 50 mph.
After he was cornered, Surface tried to run away from officers on foot. When he was caught, he told officers he had a weapon in his pocket. Officers say Surface did have a fully loaded 9mm pistol, along with drugs and drug paraphernalia when they took him into custody.
Surface confessed to swallowing “a bunch of meth” during the pursuit according to the affidavit. An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper said he had to administer medical aid to Surface, to reverse the effects of the methamphetamine he swallowed. Surface is set to return to court on Nov. 8 for arraignment.
JAY, Okla. – An outstanding warrant was issued for a Four States couple for allegedly having sex in a public park.
Ross Lowell Harris, 32, of Fayetteville, Ark. and Hailey Elizabeth Russell, 20, of Pittsburg, Kan., were charged on Oct. 3 in Delaware County District Court with acts resulting in gross injury/outraging public decency.
The couple was allegedly having sex in the water at Natural Falls State Park around 6:30 p.m. on June 13, according to an arrest affidavit.
Natural Falls State Park is located in southern Delaware County near Siloam Springs, Ark.
The couple was in the middle of a sex act when authorities arrived at the waterfall area of the park, the affidavit states.
A witness told police she and her husband and their “three young children” at the waterfall area of the park, the affidavit states. The mother observed the couple completely naked and engaged in a sexual act, the affidavit states.
JOPLIN, Mo. — Sparklight, along with other Cable One family brands, will open fall applications from October 1st through October 31st, 2022 for the company’s Charitable Giving Fund, which awards nearly $250,000 in grants, annually which are presented to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
Grants will be made available across communities served by Sparklight and the other Cable One family of brands (Fidelity Communications and ValuNet Fiber), and will concentrate support in the following priority areas:
Last year, the company was able to award more than 60 nonprofits, including organizations serving the homeless, providing child advocacy, offering senior assistance and supplying food to those in need.
“We are committed to helping strengthen the cities and towns where we live and work by giving back to the local nonprofits who do so much to support our communities,” said Julie Laulis, CableOne President and CEO.
You can find more information about the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund, HERE.
FAIRLAND, Okla. – State authorities raided an illegal marijuana grow operation on Wednesday seizing over 17,000 pounds of marijuana, confirmed Ottawa County Sheriff David Dean.
The illegal grow operation was located south of Fairland.
“Approximately 17,600 pounds of processed marijuana and weapons were seized,” Dean said.
Dean did not release the names of the six suspects arrested but said they are being booked in on numerous drug complaints including:
Unlawful cultivation of marijuana
Trafficking in marijuana
Possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony
Marijuana plants seized Wednesday at an illegal grow operation south of Fairland
Dean said the 10-and-half-hour raid was prompted after the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics received information that the grow operator did not have the proper licensing and permits that are required by the state.
The detained men had no paperwork showing the grow operation was legal. State narcotics agents also seized 3,241 live marijuana plants and another 778 plants that were hanging in a house and garage to dry, he said.
Also seized were two vehicles, a .223 rifle, a Ruger 10-22, a Mossberg shotgun and a 9mm handgun.
