Judge sets $100K bond for missing girl's mother

GLENDALE, AZ - The mother of a missing Glendale girl who was arrested for alleged child abuse made her court appearance Tuesday morning and is being held on a $100,000 bond.

Jerice Hunter’s daughter, 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley, vanished from the area of 45th and Glendale avenues on Oct. 11.

During a Monday press conference , Glendale police spokesman Brent Coombs confirmed Hunter was taken into custody on child abuse charges "directly related to Jhessye" and "recent abuse."

New court documents detail the abuse.

Hunter had been scheduled to appear in court for her initial appearance to face the child abuse charges Monday night.

Shortly before 10 p.m., the judge said her court appearance had been postponed until 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Glendale police tell ABC15 that prosecutors and detectives needed to file the proper child abuse charges, for which Hunter will be booked and arraigned upon on Tuesday.

While waiting for her court appearance Monday night, Hunter lashed out at members of the media inside the courtroom. She said, “Why are you here? Did the detectives set this up? I need to know who requested this.”

While shaking her head, at times covering her eyes, Hunter said, “Guilty until I can afford to prove my innocence, huh?”

Law enforcement in the courtroom instructed Hunter to maintain her silence and direct her questions to the judge.

Coombs said Hunter is the "number one focus" as police continue their investigation into the girl’s disappearance.

Police said it is unlikely Jhessye will be found alive.

A reward for information in the case has been increased to $25,000, according to Coombs.