Grandmother claims mother of missing Glendale girl is 'responsible'

GLENDALE, AZ - The grandmother of Jerice Hunter believes she is responsible for the October disappearance of her daughter, 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley.

Following a Monday news conference by Glendale police , Hattie Hunter told reporters Jerice had 'something' to do with Jhessye Shockley going missing.

"I don't know if (Jerice) hurt (Jhessye) or what," said Hattie Hunter.  "It might have been an accident."

Hattie Hunter and other family members of Jhessye attended the news conference to hear firsthand from Glendale police about their search for the missing girl.

"It's sad," said Jhessye's great aunt, Tammy Hunter, upon hearing the news that investigators don't expect to find the 5-year-old alive. "Jhessye is gone and nobody knows where she is."

Compounding that sadness are accusations by police that Jerice Hunter abused her daughter and is the sole focus of detectives investigating the 5-year-old's disappearance.

"Of course it's hard to hear that, that a family member is a child abuser or having something to do with your daughter being dead," added Tammy Hunter.

As she left the police department, Hattie Hunter told reporters she believes Jerice needs to take responsibility for her daughter's disappearance.

"I believe she's responsible for the disappearance," said Hattie Hunter.

Her family hopes Jerice cooperates with investigators so that they and everyone else can know the truth about what happened to Jhessye.

"If Jerice had something to do with it, she needs to be punished," said Tammy Hunter. "Whoever else had something to do with it needs to be brought to justice."