Audio By Carbonatix
Keep Phoenix New Times Free
We’re aiming to raise $10,000 by April 26. Your support ensures New Times can continue watching out for you and our community. No paywall. Always accessible. Daily online and weekly in print.
The Amber Alert for missing Glendale 5-year-old Jahessye Shockley has been called off more than two days after her disappearance, as investigators move into the second phase of their investigation.
Additionally, police are not searching a nearby landfill, as other news outlets have reported (ABC 15, we’re looking at you), Glendale Sergeant Brent Coombs tells New Times.
Shockley hasn’t been found — calling off the Amber Alert is standard procedure after 48 hours of a child’s disappearance, authorities say. In fact, Coombs says, it’s typically called off after 8-10 hours.
Authorities have ended their search of the area surrounding the home where Shockley was last seen without turning up too many leads.
At a press conference yesterday, Coombs told reporters authorities have
received a couple dozen tips from as far away as northern Arizona.
One tipster told police that a 25 to 35-year-old African-American woman driving a 1998-2000
Chevrolet Malibu was seen in the area with a child fitting the
description of Shockley.
According to the tipster, the woman was seen putting the child in the vehicle.
Shockley wandered away from siblings — who were caring for her at her
family’s apartment at the time — a little before 5 p.m. Tuesday and
hasn’t been seen since. Her mother returned home to the apartment
and searched for the girl for about 30 minutes before calling police
when she realized the 5-year-old was missing.
It was revealed yesterday that Shockley’s mother, Jerice Hunter, has a
history of child abuse, including reportedly beating her kids with an
electric cord.
Police say they’ve ruled nobody out as a suspect in the girl’s disappearance.
Shockley’s described as a black female, approximately 3-foot-5, 55
pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. She has long hair that was in
a ponytail at the time of her disappearance. She was last seen wearing a
solid white T-shirt, blue jean shorts, and pink flip flops.
Anyone with information about Shockley’s disappearance should call the Glendale Police Department at 623-930-3000.
