Glendale police announced Friday that the search for the body of 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley has entered its "final stages."
Jhessye's mother, Jerice Hunter, was arrested for child abuse in November, but was released after charges weren't filed.
Police have said they believe Jhessye's dead, and her mother's the only suspect.
Police believe Shockley's body was placed in a trash bin some time
before she was reported missing on October 11, and her body was
ultimately taken with the garbage to a landfill south of the Valley.
According to court records obtained by New Times, two of
Jhessye's siblings -- now in foster care -- told their foster parents
about some of the abuse Jhessye received at the hands of her mother
Jerice Hunter, who spent four years in a California prison for child
abuse.
All of that alleged abuse happened weeks before Hunter called police on October 11.
The last time anyone saw Jhessye alive was September 22, which was the last time records show her attending school.
Her sisters said they never saw Jhessye the day her mother reported her
missing, when Hunter told police that the older siblings were watching
the girl as she ran errands.
On October 9, Hunter bought a bottle of bleach at a Walgreens. She then
cleaned the entire apartment and scrubbed her shoes that were in the
closet with Jhessye with bleach, the sister told police.
Hunter's also pregnant again, according to reports.
This morning's question: will Hunter still be charged if the search comes up empty?
Cast your vote below:
