Search Continues for Missing Oklahoma Girl as Authorities Investigate Her Mother's Death

The search continues for a missing girl whose mother was found dead in Comanche County this weekend.

Monday, January 25th 2010, 8:12 am

By: News 9


News9.com

GERONIMO, Oklahoma -- Authorities issued an Amber Alert for a 7-year-old girl after her mother was found dead Sunday night in Comanche County.

The Comanche County Sheriff's Office is looking for Aja Johnson, who went missing Sunday night in Geronimo near Lawton.

Deputies said they found the body of Aja's mother, 37-year-old Tonya Hobbs, at 9 p.m. Sunday in her parked RV.

Deputies say Aja Johnson has a medical condition that requires medication. She is 4 feet tall, 65 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes and a very thin build. She may be wearing a blue coat, green backpack and she likes to carry a Winnie the Pooh Bear.

They believe she is with 47-year-old Lester Hobbs.  Deputies said he is Aja's step-father and he is wanted for questioning in Aja's mother's death.

Alice Dunkin, the mother of Tonya Hobbs, said Tonya, Aja, and Aja's 13-year-old half-sister Koressa left Friday afternoon to visit Hobbs in Geronimo.  Hobbs was worried about a pending court date and wanted to see the girls, Dunkin said.

Koressa was the one who alerted neighbors that something was wrong when she woke up and found her mother's RV locked and her mother's car missing. The neighbor discovered Tonya Hobbs' body and immediately called police.

Dunkin said the 13-year-old is with family friend Roy Anderson in Newcastle. 

Aja's biological father was granted emergency custody by an Oklahoma County judge in November. Aja was supposed to be under supervised visitation with her mother and was not to be around Hobbs, according to a court order issued in December.

Aja's father, J.J. Johnson, made an emotional plea, Monday, for the safe return of his daughter. Johnson said he needs his little girl back and she needs her medication for attention deficit disorder and insomnia.

He last saw Aja Friday afternoon. He said Aja was supposedly going to a family member's birthday party and left with clothes for an overnight stay with her mother.

"Please Lester if you're listening or anyone out there who knows where she is please return her. Take her to a safe spot," J.J. Johnson said. "I'm here to make a plea to everyone who is listening, every parent who is out there that I need my little girl back."

Aja is enrolled at Parmelee Elementary school in south Oklahoma City, an Oklahoma City Public Schools spokeswoman said.

Deputies say Hobbs has prior felony convictions, including convictions for domestic abuse, violating a protective order and assault and battery. He is 5 feet 9 inches and 180 pounds. Deputies also say Hobbs has many tattoos. The ones most easily seen are on his hands. On his left fingers, he has LOVE tattooed. He also has LOVE on the top of his left wrist. On his right fingers he has ROSE.

Hobbs is believed driving a 1992 White Toyota Paseo with Oklahoma license plate number 577-BPW. The 2-door car reportedly has no hubcaps and plastic covers the rear passenger window.

Deputies said Hobbs may be headed to Davenport in Lincoln County.  Davenport is near Stroud. 

OSBI has also requested the states of California, Oregon, and Texas issue Amber Alerts due to Hobbs having relatives living in those states.

If you see the vehicle, you're urged to call 580-355-1115. OSBI have set up a line specifically for this case.

OSBI is planning a press conference today, at 2 p.m. to discuss the latest in the investigation.

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