Baby's Death Brings New State Policy

Bobbie Robinson wakes up every morning to heart-ache. Its been two months since her nephew, Joshua Robinson was killed. Police say his mothers boyfriend beat him to death. Bobbie Robinson says, the whole incident could have been prevented. When she heard that abuse weeks prior to the incident, she says she contacted a worker at the local DHS office, but her complaint fell on deaf ears. She says, "I constantly called her and I constantly talked to her. She was aware of the Joshuas siblings problems. She knew the procedures. I did eveything she told me to do." One thing Bobbie wa told to do, was to call an abuse hotline. She says she did, but at that point, it was too late, Joshua had passed away. Because of this case, Arkansas DHS is changing its abuse policy. Now, policy requires that anytime abuse is reported to a DHS worker, the worker is responsbile for calling the hotline. Bobbies attorney says even more needs to be done. Tim Leonard says "It should sicken every resident that an agency, sworn to protect the children doesnt take the steps when they know it has to be done. that it should be done...they dont take the steps and it cost the child his life." He says his office is gathering facts about this case to figure out what they want to do next. He says the system needs to be fixed so no other child is left forgotten. Bobbie Robinson says she is ready to fight this battle, in the name of Joshua and the other children the state of Arkansas is supposed to protect. James Johnson, the man accused of beating Joshua to death is awaiting trial on a capitol murder charge.