Homicide

Arizona woman convicted of murder in death of 5-year-old daughter who was never found

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Jerice Hunter was convicted of killing and abusing her 5-year-old daughter on Monday, April 27, 2015 in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Ariz. Authorities said the 41-year-old Hunter kept her daughter Jhessye Shockley at the family's suburban Phoenix home and deprived her of food and water until she died. (Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Jerice Hunter was convicted of killing and abusing her 5-year-old daughter on Monday, April 27, 2015 in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Ariz. Authorities said the 41-year-old Hunter kept her daughter Jhessye Shockley at the family's suburban Phoenix home and deprived her of food and water until she died. (Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Jerice Hunter was convicted of killing and abusing her 5-year-old daughter on Monday, April 27, 2015 in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Ariz. Authorities said the 41-year-old Hunter kept her daughter Jhessye Shockley at the family's suburban Phoenix home and deprived her of food and water until she died. (Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

A jury has convicted an Arizona mother of murder in the death her 5-year-old daughter who disappeared in 2011 and was never found.

The verdict was reached Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court.

Authorities say 41-year-old Jerice Hunter beat and kept her daughter Jhessye Shockley in a bedroom closet at the family's suburban Phoenix home depriving her of food and water until she died.

Prosecutors say Hunter stuffed the remains of the child in a suitcase and put it in a trash bin.

The disappearance of Jhessye Shockley set off an intense search of landfills as officers picked through 9,500 tons of garbage over three months.

Hunter's lawyers say there's no proof that Jhessye is dead.