Lawmaker, Family of Murdered Girl Call for Changes at DHS

One lawmaker has demanded changes at the Department of Human Services after the murder of an Oklahoma City girl.

Thursday, September 30th 2010, 5:18 pm

By: News 9


Adrianna Iwasinski, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma lawmaker has demanded changes at the Department of Human Services after the murder of an Oklahoma City girl.

State Representative Kris Steele, a Republican from Shawnee, wants to improve how the state reviews child abuse and neglect cases. His calls for change came in light of the death of 7-year-old Aja Johnson.

Aja's 46-year-old stepfather, Lester Hobbs, kidnapped and killed her in January, then committed suicide. Their bodies were found in a wooded area in March. Police said before Hobbs abducted Aja, he killed her mother, Tonya Hobbs.

Aja's father, J.J. Johnson, and sister, Betsy Evans, are working with Steele to change the way DHS reviews its cases. They want stricter guidelines to protect children, such as mandatory background checks on adults in the lives of at-risk kids in the DHS system. Johnson said Lester Hobbs had a long criminal record and should not have been allowed around his daughter.

"If a bill like this would have been passed, my daughter Aja would never have been placed in harm's way and all of this would have been prevented," Johnson said.

DHS records also showed that Aja Johnson's family had nine referrals to the agency in the three years before her death.

Steele questioned several state child abuse experts Thursday before the House Human Services Committee. The panel is conducting an interim legislative study.

More:

- Report Indicates Dead 7-Year-Old Aja Johnson Was Abused
- Family, Friends Gather to Remember Aja Johnson
- M.E.'s Office Releases Preliminary Autopsy Reports for Aja Johnson, Lester Hobbs
- OSBI Defends Investigation in Aja Johnson Case
-
Investigation Continues After Bodies of Aja Johnson, Lester Hobbs Possibly Found in Norman
- OSBI Explains Delay in Notifying Aja Johnson's Family
- Hobbs' Family Says They Had Feeling Hobbs Would Go to Norman
- Car, Bodies Found in Connection With Case of Missing Girl Aja Johnson
- OSBI Pleads For Safe Return of Aja Johnson
- Search Continues for Missing Oklahoma Girl as Authorities Investigate Her Mother's Death
- OSBI Working Against Time to Find Missing 7-Year-Old
- Alleged Murderer's Family Pleads For Release of Aja Johnson
- Search Continues for Missing Oklahoma Girl
- Surveillance Photos Show Kidnapping, Murder Suspect on Day of Murder

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