Jhessye Shockley case

Relatives and volunteers help raise awareness on Oct. 15, 2011 to find Jhessye Shockley, who has been missing since October 11. They are at the intersection of 45th avenue and Glendale, close to where she disappeared.

Relatives and volunteers help raise awareness on Oct. 15, 2011 to find Jhessye Shockley, who has been missing since October 11. They are at the intersection of 45th avenue and Glendale, close to where she disappeared.

Lisa Vance, who is wearing a T-shirt on Nov. 21, 2011 of the missing girl, Jhessye Shockley, was at the crime scene at the Autumn Apartment in Glendale on Nov. 21, 2011. Jerice Hunter, the mother of the missing Glendale girl, has been arrested, according to her mother Shirley Johnson. Police told Johnson they have not found Jhessye Shockley and they had not given her a reason for Hunter's arrest.

Glendale police investigators' search of the missing girl, Jhessye Shockley, was at the crime scene at the Autumn Apartment in Glendale on Nov. 21, 2011. Jerice Hunter, the mother of the missing Glendale girl, has been arrested, according to her mother Shirley Johnson. Police told Johnson they have not found Jhessye Shockley and they had not given her a reason for Hunter's arrest.

Jesse Johnson, grandfather of Jhessye Shockley, yells at members of the media outside of his daughter Jerice Hunter's apartment in Glendale on Monday, November 21, 2011.

The memorial of the missing girl, Jhessye Shockley, is located on Glendale and 45th avenues.

Sgt. Brent Coombs of Glendale Police Department gives out a statement on the missing girl, Jhessye Shockley, while they arrested the girl's mother, Jerice Hunter.

Tammy Hunter, aunt of the missing girl, Jhessye Shockley, talks to media at Glendale Police Dept. on Monday Nov 21, 2011.

Jerice Hunter was arrested Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, on suspicion of child abuse involving Jhessye Shockley, the missing Glendale girl, according to authorities. Her arrest comes six weeks after 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley was reported missing.

Jerice Hunter appears in court Monday Nov. 21, 2011 in Phoenix. Glendale police arrested Hunter Monday on suspicion of child abuse involving her daughter, the missing Glendale 5-year-old, Jhessye Shockley, according to authorities. Shockley has been missing since Oct. 11.

Jerice Hunter makes her initial court appearance at the 4th Avenue Jail in Phoenix on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. Hunter is the mother of Jhessye Shockley, who was reported missing several weeks ago.

They say they don't need a body to prosecute a murder case of Jhessye Shockley, but authorities on Monday began at a landfill an arduous search for the missing 5-year-old Glendale girl -- and pledged to continue the effort until they find her. Glendale investigators started the task of raking through tons of trash south of the Valley, hoping to find the remains of Jhessye Shockley. A police spokesman said a crew will dig up buried piles of compacted trash and spread them out in an area of 180 feet by 200 feet area for a search team to sift through with rakes. The operation could take weeks, and authorities say that upwards of 6,000 tons of trash may be dug up and carefully examined.

More than 40 police officers, FBI agents and others wear masks and white protective suits on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, as they search a landfill south of the Valley for the body of Jhessye Shockley, a missing Glendale girl.

More than 40 police officers, FBI agents and others wear masks and white protective suits on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, as they search a landfill south of the Valley for the body of Jhessye Shockley, a missing Glendale girl.

Glendale Police Forensic Technician Gina Carter, left, and lead detective Roger Geisler, observe the search for Jhessye Shockley, at the Butterfield Station Landfill Friday, June 1, 2012.

More than 40 police officers, FBI agents and others wear masks and white protective suits on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, as they search a landfill south of the Valley for the body of Jhessye Shockley, a missing Glendale girl.

More than 40 police officers, FBI agents and others wear masks and white protective suits on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, as they search a landfill south of the Valley for the body of Jhessye Shockley, a missing Glendale girl.

Glendale police hold a press conference about the Jhessye Shockley case at the Glendale Police Department June 27, 2012. Police have spent more than 20 weeks searching a landfill south of the valley for the five-year-old's remains. She has been missing since October 11, 2011.

Glendale Police commander Dave Madeya gets choked-up while answering questions while FBI special agent in charge James Turgal watches during a press conference about the Jhessye Shockley case at the Glendale Police Department June 27, 2012. Police have spent more than 20 weeks searching a landfill south of the valley for the five-year-old's remains. She has been missing since October 11, 2011.

Interim Glendale Police Chief Deborah Black speaks at a press conference about the arrest of the mother, Jerice Hunter, of missing 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley inside Glendale police headquarters in Glendale, AZ, on Sept. 6, 2012.

Jerice Hunter is currently in custody facing criminal charges for the murder and abuse of her 5-year-old daughter, Jhessye Shockley, who has been missing since last October. Hunter's arrest follows a nearly yearlong joint investigation by Glendale police and the FBI in cooperation with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

Jerice Hunter, accused of murdering her daughter, Jhessye Shockley, listens to opening arguments at her trial in Phoenix on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

Jerice Hunter, accused of murdering her daughter, Jhessye Shockley, listens to opening arguments at her trial in Phoenix on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

Prosecutor Jeannette Gallagher gives her opening arguments at the trial of Jerice Hunter, accused of murdering her daughter, Jhessye Shockley, in Phoenix on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

Jerice Hunter, who was charged with first-degree murder and child abuse in the death of her daughter Jhessye Shockley, awaits her sentencing at Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix on Friday, July 17, 2015.

Judge Rosa Mroz sentences Jerice Hunter to life in prison at Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix on July 17, 2015.

Judge Rosa Mroz sentences Jerice Hunter to life in prison at Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix on July 17, 2015.

Judge Rosa Mroz sentences Jerice Hunter to life in prison at Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix on July 17, 2015.

Defense attorney Candice Shoemaker ask the judge for leniency for Jerice Hunter on July 17, 2015.

Defense attorney Candice Shoemaker ask the judge for leniency for Jerice Hunter on July 17, 2015.

Prosecutor Jeannette Gallagher (rigt) hugs Lisa Vance after her cousin, Jerice Hunter, was sentence to life in prison for the murder of Jhessye Shockley on July 17, 2015.