KRMG EXCLUSIVE: Tulsa DA says few options available for teens who abuse parents

Last week's murder arrest of a teen with a history of violently abusing his mother is prompting questions from KRMG listeners.

It's a story you'll only hear on KRMG.

Our investigation into the murder of a south Tulsa mom revealed her son, 17-year-old Hank Laird, had a history of punching, choking and shoving her.

That investigation revealed multiple juvenile convictions for assault and battery against his mother.

KRMG asked Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris why the teen was put back into his mother's home following the most recent conviction. Harris says, "When you're talking about domestic violence in the home between a minor and a parent, it becomes very dicey."

Harris stresses that judicial ethics don't allow him to comment on the specifics of Laird's case but says, in general, parents still have a responsibility to their children. Harris says, "You put as much stop-gap measures as you possibly can into that situation but sometimes they're not enough."

Domestic violence presents certain issues when children are the attackers. Harris says, "You overlay that with parent-child and all of the baggage that comes with those kind of relationships. It's very difficult. It's very complex and there are no easy answers."

The ultimate goal of juvenile justice system, according to Harris, is rehabilitation, not incarceration. Harris says, "I look at it and say 'Is there anything that we can learn out of this tragedy?' in hopes that it never happens again."