Police Search for Missing Arizona Girl Jahessye Shockley
Oct. 13, 2011— -- More than 100 law enforcement personnel and volunteers are searching for Jahessye Shockley in Glendale, Ariz.
According to Glendale Police, an Amber Alert was issued Tuesday evening when the 5-year-old girl went missing from her family's home in an apartment complex near Glendale Road and 45th Avenue.
It was around 5 p.m. when Jahessye's mother returned from running a quick errand and discovered the girl missing, said Officer Tracey Breeden, a Glendale Police Department spokesperson.
Jahessye had been at home with her three siblings, ages 6, 9 and 12.
Breeden said the mother said that when she got home, the front door was open, but Jahessye wasn't inside and the siblings did not know where she was.
The mother searched around the apartment complex and called 911.
No one else lived at the home with the mother and her children.
Today, police are canvassing a 1-mile area around the family's home and plan to extend the search to cover a 3-mile area.
Police have also searched the area around Jahessye's school, although she did not attend school that day. Phoenix Police air unit has assisted with the search, and search and rescue dogs have been brought in.
"What we're focusing right now on is trying get as many tips and calls as we can, asking anyone who may have seen anything at all to give us a call", said Breeden.
A 24-hour tip line has been set up, and anyone with information is asked to call 623-930-HELP (4357).
Police have been following up on all tips they have received, but so far none have led to Jahessye's whereabouts.
"We're taking it one day at a time, trying to prioritize the tips they're receiving", said Breeden.
Jahessye is African-American, approximately 3 feet 5 inches tall, 55 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
She was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, and had her hair in long ponytail.
