Glendale police have arrested Jerice Hunter, mother of missing Glendale girl Jhessye Shockley, on charges of child abuse related directly to her daughter.
"We have not located Jhessye yet. Today Jerice Hunter was arrested by the Glendale PD directly related to her daughter Jhessye," said Sergeant Brent Coombs with the Glendale Police Department during a press conference.
The information that was used to make the arrest on Hunter was obtained within the past few days, Coombs said, adding that many leads received by police have pointed to Hunter.
Hunter is currently the "number one focus" of the investigation and police believe she "played a key role" in her daughter's disappearance, said Coombs.
A polygraph test has been offered to Hunter on multiple occasions, but Hunter has not been cooperative, Coombs said.