CBS 5 - KPHO Amber Alert issued for missing 5-year-old girl

The Glendale Police Department issued an AMBER ALERT for 5-year-old Jhessye Shockley on Wednesday.

Shockley was reported missing her family's home in the Autumn Leaves Apartment complex on Tuesday evening.

Police said a 25- to 35-year-old African-American woman driving a 1998-2000 Chevrolet Malibu was seen in the area with a child fitting the description of Shockley.

"Our biggest fear is that we don't find her and as the minutes go by, you wonder what's going on," said Sgt. Brent Coombs with the Glendale Police Department. "It seems as though by now she should have materialized."

Wednesday night police said they'd expanded the search area a half mile east.

"We're not so short-sighted to believe that something couldn't have picked her up, or someone couldn't have picked her up and got on to a bus and gone east," said Sgt. Brent Coombs of the Glendale Police Department.  "She has the ability to walk that far.  She's a very able-bodied 5-year-old who can get in and around and on top of and through things very easily."

Investigators said police would be combing the neighborhood overnight, and if necessary, planned to expand their search north Thursday morning.

Glendale police ask persons with any information related to this case to contact them at 623-930-3000.

Earlier in the day, Glendale police said they were seeking a person of interest as a bloodhound and investigators from around Arizona joined the search for Shockley, including the FBI.

Shockley had wandered away from siblings at her home in the Autumn Leaves Apartment complex near 6800 N. 45th Ave. shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday, officers said.  

The Arizona Child Abduction Response Team joined the search Wednesday morning. That provided more trained investigators on the ground to help interview neighbors, canvas the area and hunt for surveillance video at nearby businesses.

Shockley is black and has long black hair with a ponytail. She is described as about 3' 5" tall and weighs 55 pounds. She was last seen wearing a solid white T-shirt and jeans.

Authorities confirmed the new spelling of the child's last name Wednesday morning.

Officer Tracey Breeden said the girl's mother left the home for about 30 minutes and left the child and other children in the care of a 13-year-old sibling.

When her mother arrived home and found her child missing, she immediately called the Glendale Police Department.

Police say the mother's story is solid and that she is cooperating. The father is not in the picture and they have ruled him out.

Glendale Police detectives have been searching the area in an attempt to locate the child.

Officers are going door to door and searching swimming pools, alleys and Dumpsters within a square mile of where the child lives.

Neighbors have helped in the search, sex offenders in the area have been interviewed and police say there is no sign of violence or foul play at the little girl's home.

Phoenix Police air unit and patrol units are also helping out.

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