Mum Starves Daughter To Death, Dumps Corpse In Trash Bin
An Arizona mum, Jerice Hunter, 41, was convicted of first-degree murder and child abuse Monday for starving her 5-year-old daughter, Jhessye Shockley, to death. Prosecutors said Jhessye was beaten, neglected and confined to a closet before being dumped in a trash bin in 2011.
CBS News reports;
Jerice Hunter kept her daughter at the family’s suburban Phoenix home and deprived her of food and water until she died. However, her body has not been found.
Hunter showed no emotion as the verdict was read.
Shirley Johnson, Hunter’s mother, reportedly slumped over and cried, “Oh God! She’s not dead, she’s not dead,” before she was quickly escorted out of the courtroom by security guards.
After the verdict, the jury determined that four aggravating circumstances related to the child abuse charge had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, prosecutors said Hunter could face at least 35 years and up to life in prison when she is sentenced on June 5.
The disappearance of Jhessye set off an intense search of landfills as officers picked through 9,500 tons of garbage over three months.
Suspicion quickly turned to Hunter after it was learned she served four years in prison in California on child abuse charges and was released on parole in 2010.
Hunter’s lawyers emphasized Jhessye’s body was never found, hoping to create doubt among the jury.
In her closing argument, Hunter’s attorney Candice Shoemaker also said that neither Jhessye’s teacher nor a Child Protective Services agent who investigated the family noticed any signs of abuse.
Police and prosecutors have said bloodstains on the carpet of a closet and testimony from Hunter’s teenage daughter showed the mother neglected and beat Jhessye.
“Where is Jhessye’s body? We don’t know. She got away with that. Don’t let her get away with murder,” prosecutor Blaine Gadow told jurors during closing arguments.
Prosecutor Jeannette Gallagher said Hunter knowingly misled the community by reporting her daughter was missing when she was already dead.
In a news conference later, Johnson, Hunter’s mother, said she believes her granddaughter is still alive and should not be taken off the national missing persons list.
Johnson claimed the media and police didn’t do enough to spread the word and look for the child because she is black.
“Black lives matter just like everybody else. Don’t stop looking for my grandbaby,” she said.
Glendale police released a statement reiterating that their extensive search for the body involved more than 300 officers over three months. The department said it’s pleased with the verdict.
“Our goal always remained the same – to obtain justice for Jhessye Shockley,” said police Sgt. David Vidaure.
“I’m just grateful that we got justice,” Lisa Vance, a cousin who raised the child until she was 4, told KPHO outside the courthouse. “She did this to baby Jhessye. Yes, she died and I was right all along. I’m just glad the world knows.”
Why do women give birth and then turn around to kill their kids? It baffles me how women can do this? This lil girl is so beautiful and adorable and her mum killed her. Hmmmmmm.
Message.. Oh lord! Whts ds world turning into?
She could have handed the child to the welfare if she never wanted her
Hmmmm terrible!!!
oh my God. what an evil. your own child.
God knows best.
I can’t even start dealing with this, she’s so delusional.
I guess this Hunter woman is sick in the head. Damn!!!!
Wicked grandma
She is criminally insane
What a woman!
Holy spirit
Only God knows what happened …..wow this world ehn
Terrible terrible
Thats so wicked of a mum
Horrible story.
I think did mum is deranged.
God of mercy what is really happening?
This is terrible.I tire for some people o
She is insane of course
Everyday u hear stories of mum killing dea kids,wats wrong?