Mother of Jhessye Shockley arrested, police confirm she’s a suspect in disappearance

At a news conference on November 21, Glendale, AZ police commissioner stated Jerice Hunter, Jhessye Shockley’s mother, is the main focus in the investigation of the child’s disappearance.

She has been arrested.

Jhessye Shockley’s disappearance

Hunter’s 13-year-old daughter began talking to her foster mother about conditions in the home before the disappearance of her 5-year-old sister. She said her mother told her to lie about Jhessye’s disappearance, and said the last time she actually saw her sister alive was September 12th, and not October 11th which was reported by the mother.

According to reports, an incident was reported that Jerice Hunter became enraged when she came home to find Jhessye dressed in a long t-shirt while watching television with a neighborhood boy.

A document presented to the court indicates Jerice Hunter was heard calling Jhessye a “ho” before taking her into bedroom where the older sister heard her little sister screaming and crying. The teenager told police the mother kept Jhessye in a closet without food or water, and she had seen the child with black eyes, bruises, and cuts.

The teen also reported Hunter placed incense to kill the odor. She also reported a few days before Jhessye was reported missing, Hunter spent the entire day cleaning the apartment. Police confirmed they found a receipt that shows Hunter bought food and bleach.

Jerice Hunter maintains her innocence. She is currently being held on $100,000 bail because of her past history of child abuse and the severity of the crime.