In the aftermath of the abduction and murder of a Metamora woman two area state senators have begun working on a proposed violent offender registry for Ohio.

The suspect in the case, a Fulton County man, has a previous conviction for abduction.

Sen. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green) and Sen. Cliff Hite (R., Findlay) say they have been contacting county prosecutors and sheriffs as well as the Ohio Attorney General's Office for input on developing such a warning system.

“We have an obligation to do what we can to listen to the concerns and anxieties of the people we represent while working with law enforcement to best achieve enhanced safety and public awareness,” the senators said in a news release.

Several other states, including Indiana, have violent offender registries, which are similar to registries Ohio has in place for sex offenders and arson offenders.

After Sierah Joughin, 20, was abducted last week while riding her bicycle near her home and found murdered, a Delta resident started an online petition to create a violent offender registry “so that people have a place to search and protect themselves from those who repeatedly harm others,” the petition states.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.

First Published July 27, 2016, 8:28 p.m.