Police announce start date of landfill search for Jhessye Shockley

GLENDALE, AZ - Glendale police have decided on a date to start searching a landfill for missing 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley.

According to Sgt. Brent Coombs with the Glendale Police Department, the search could last several weeks and will begin Feb. 6 at the Butterfield Landfill in Mobile, south of the Valley.

The search team will include officers, detectives, the FBI, and Child Abduction Response Team members.

More than 40 people will be on site each day, Coombs said.

“The department is currently in the final stages of obtaining the necessary equipment, as well as scheduling, training, and medically screening involved personnel,” he said.

Jhessye was initially reported missing Oct. 11.

The search comes just a month after police announced they believe Jhessye’s body was placed in a trash receptacle.

Coombs said the trash from that location is eventually taken to Butterfield Landfill.

Butterfield is Arizona’s largest landfill but investigators have selected a specific area they’ll be searching.

Everyone involved will go through training on how to work in those conditions.

Those working will be required to wear safety glasses, masks, suits, gloves and especially ordered boots.

Search crews are also required to be medically screened and up to date with their immunizations.

This is an active homicide investigation.