Hell in the Heartland

Hell in the Heartland is an apt title for Jax Millers book about brutal life and brutal loss in northeast Oklahoma. The case she examines began in 1999 with the murder of a couple, Kathy and Danny Freeman, in a trailer fire (after having been murdered by gunfire) and disappearance (and assumed death) of two 16 year old girls. The story has everything the reader might assume, with meth making and distribution to local and state cops who are not diligent in their duties to make a thorough investigation of the murders and possible kidnapping of the teens. The crimes actually begin about a year before the murders of the Freemans with the death of their older child in a scrape with the local police. Shane Freeman, a wild child, was killed. The Freemans and their family felt the police didnt investigate Shanes death and were even involved in it. The bad blood simmered from there, still affecting lives 20 years later. More people died, some by murder, some by drugs, some by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The story of the tiny area of northeast Oklahoma is fairly well told by Jax Miller. What isnt so well written was Millers insertion of herself and her personal story into the larger tale. Im not sure why authors do this, because its not easy to write. Millers intrusions breakaway from the telling of the main story and add very little. It reminds me of a recent book, Emma Eisenbergs The Third Rainbow Girl – also a story of a kidnapping and murders of two young women in drug-addled West Virginia. I might be interested in Eisenberg and Millers stories if they were told in their own memoirs. As written now, they just become extraneous bits inserted in the lives of others. However, if you dont care if an author inserts herself in her work of nonfiction, I can recommend Hell in the Heartland.

Hell in the Heartland is so much more than the penned story of the disappearance of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman and the murder of Ashleys parents, Danny and Kathy. Jax Miller takes you on a journey. From the beginning, she connects you not only to the Freemans, the Bibles and the horrific events, but also to herself. Throughout the pages of the book, she unfolds the story in the masterful way that few True Crime authors can accomplish. She is able to share dark and painful details in a precise and factual way while still keeping the story personal and real with the focus on the victims and the most important thing… justice and the search for Ashley and Lauria. Hell in the Heartland is an must read for True Crime enthusiasts and Jax Miller is absolutely an author to follow. With this being her first True Crime novel, I can only imagine whats to come. Personally, I think weve possibly found the next Ann Rule. ***The HLN Network did a series in May of 2019 called Hell In The Heartland, What Happened To Ashley And Lauria and Jax Miller is in the series. It is a great introduction to her and her passion for this case.

I am a true crime fan but had never heard of this case until the Headline News Series came out about a year ago. The case is fascinating and the book did not disappoint but I wish there was more about the girls and less about the suspects, especially now that it is known these suspects were ruled out. The author told the story in a different way… from the first person, her perspective as she spent much time in Oklahoma \”investigating\” and talking to family and potential witnesses. I feel like I have just spent several hours on the prairie, the descriptions are very vivid and the characters are very much alive. Very sad that a small town inexperienced county sheriff could not solve this case in a timely manner. The author apparently has a close relationship with the family and updates her page about searches and news on the case. I am looking forward to more books from this new author.

I have looked forward to the release of this book since Jax first showed up on the Bible\’s Facebook page. I lived in Miami OK at the time of the murders. My son was a senior in high school. Everyone was shocked by this crime. My cousins live in Bluejacket and knew the families. I have been to most of the places mentioned in the book. The story was brought vividly back to the front of my mind though I have never forgotten. Ms. Lorene is a lady I would want on my side in any fight. Jax has gone into great detail from all angles. Do yourself a favor and get this book today but be warned…you will want to finish it before you put it down.

I\’m predicting that H*ll in the Heartland will be my favorite true crime book of 2020! I have heard of the missing girls – Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible, but I hadn\’t heard any updates in quite some time. Jax Miller became fascinated with the Freeman/Bible case and started investigating. At some point during a sleepover at Ashley Freeman\’s house in 1999, the home catches fire, and when the police arrive it is discovered that Ashley\’s parents have been murdered and Ashley and Lauria are missing. Jax finds herself caught up in rumors of drugs, police incompetence, and possibly even police involvement. What happened at this trailer? Where are the girls? There are so many threads to this story. One of the fascinating ones is about Ashley Freeman\’s brother who was shot and killed by a police officer a year before the fire at the age of 17. One of my favorite things in any book is when the location becomes a character. Jax does a fantastic job bringing Oklahoma to life. I can picture all of these places and I\’m curious about visiting some of these places.

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