October 20, 2011 2:13 PM

Family of missing 5-yr.-old Arizona girl asks, why no national media coverage?

By
Casey Glynn
Topics
Daily Blotter ,
Missing

Jahessye Shockley

(Credit: File, AP Photo/Glendale Police Department)

(CBS/KPHO) PHOENIX - Although last week's disappearance of Jhessye Shockley has been covered faithfully by local media, the grandmother of the 5-year-old Arizona girl is wondering why her granddaughter's case has received very little national coverage.

"I want the national media to pick it up. I won't stop until they do. I don't know why it's not national now," said Shirley Johnson, Shockley's grandmother, CBS affiliate KPHO reports. "They have that ability to send out to other states. They have that ability to make sure someone from across the nation (knows) what is going on."

Jhessye Shockley was last seen on Oct. 11 at her Glendale home by her three older siblings while their mother was running an errand. Police believe she left their apartment through the front door but don't know what happened next. Police said Monday they now believe the 5-year-old was most likely kidnapped.

Paul Penzone, a retired Phoenix police sergeant and child advocate, said he's also noticed the dearth of national coverage, KPHO reports.

"I don't know what's missing or why, but in our community this is a big deal. We'd hope it would get national media in hopes of getting a successful recovery," said Penzone.

Penzone, who was formerly a spokesperson for Silent Witness, a group that combats domestic violence, now works as a panelist on The Nancy Grace Show.

"I have spoken to producers there and kind of put a bug in their ear, saying please keep an eye on this case. This is a precious little girl, and maybe you guys can take a look at covering this and help them find her," said Penzone. "Continued coverage absolutely is critical. The eyes of the community are going to be biggest tool for law enforcement if this little girl is somewhere where she can be seen and recovered."

More on Crimesider
October 17, 2011 - Police: Missing 5-yr.-old Arizona girl was likely kidnapped
October 13, 2011 - Search for Ariz. girl, 5, missing since Tuesday


Add a Comment See all 16 Comments
by lillybee October 26, 2011 8:04 PM EDT
I wish that grandmother would quit playing the race card, no one cares about what she thinks we only care to find the child. I am white and when I see this child I want her to be found and it has nothing to do with her race. Until she's found that grandmother should shut her big mouth, I turn the channel because I can't stand to even hear her voice. Maybe she did something to the child and by being radical she thinks this will be a good defense. I pray they find her healthy and happy. But meantime Grandma, SHUT THE BLANK UP, YOU ARE NOT HELPING.
Reply to this comment
by RandomCommenter October 22, 2011 9:03 AM EDT
THE Question is why is the Grandmother speaking out now? WHERE the eff was she when her grandkids where being abused so badly that her daughter was sentenced to 8 years PRISON for whipping her child with an extension cord? Yeah pull the race card granny, your daughter is evil no matter what color she is.
Reply to this comment
by Tubal22 October 21, 2011 10:06 PM EDT
Probably because people don't think the family did this one. It's just a run of the mill missing person.

You get a lot more hits when it's a little baby and the mother is a suspect.

There's another one in Utah (where I'm from) right now. She's white, but you don't see that in the national media.
Reply to this comment
by RandomCommenter October 22, 2011 8:49 AM EDT
FYI-It has nothing to do with RACE, read below and educate yourself as to WHY this tragic story is not get national media, it is a HEARTBREAKING STORY OF BAD PARENTING.

GLENDALE, Arizona (Isabelle Zehnder reporting) -- It was discovered Sunday that the parents of missing 5-year-old Arizona girl, Jahessye Shockley (pronounced Jesse), were both convicted and served prison time for abusing their children in 2006, that the little girl's father is a registered sex offender in the State of California, and that Jahessye's sisters have been removed from the home by Child Protective Services.

Court papers say that between April and October 2005, Jerice Hunter and her husband - convicted sex offender George Shockley - did "willfully and wrongfully inflict cruel and inhuman corporal punishment and injury, resulting in a traumatic condition" upon all four children - a teenage boy and three young girls. Jahessye had not been born yet.

Court documents show that Jahessye's mother was sentenced to eight years in prison for "whipping one of her children with an extension cord" in California in 2006.



Continue reading on Examiner.com Missing Arizona girl's parents convicted of child abuse, CPS removes sisters - National missing persons | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/missing-persons-in-national/missing-arizona-girl-s-parents-convicted-of-child-abuse-cps-removes-sisters#ixzz1bVvDx5GO
by poppasgirl October 21, 2011 7:36 PM EDT
The media constantly ignores the children of color who are kidnapped, abused, raped, murdered, exploited, and otherwise victimized by family, friends of family as well as strangers. It is a fact that crimes committed against a child of color (any color)will not be investigated as vigoriously as those against a caucasian child. The media covorage will not be there. While you may read a paragraph or see a 15 second news story about a black child, you will not find the coverage such as Baby Lisa is getting or Casey Anthony for example. This child is loved and missed and someone wants her rturned home. Grandmom should do whatever it takes to get that baby back.
Reply to this comment
by RandomCommenter October 22, 2011 9:18 AM EDT
You OBVIOUSLY do not know the facts of this case.
Exactly how do you know the police are not working as hard on this case as any other?


Grandma should have spoken up a little sooner, ya think?
by LibbyB1963 October 21, 2011 10:15 AM EDT
Give me a break. One, there are so many missing children, very few of which end up getting national attention. Two, her story has been on CBS News, ABC News, Fox News, MSNBC News and Nancy Grace....that I've seen alone. I'm betting more. Three, if grandmother (who is from what I understand the caregiver) truly wants to know what happened to Jahessye, she needs to ask the mother or father. The mother has served time in prison for child abuse...severe child abuse and the father is a convicted child molester. Give those two a lie dectector test and or do a search warrant of their homes and vehicles and I bet you find some clues as to what happened to this poor child.
Reply to this comment
by poppasgirl October 21, 2011 7:47 PM EDT
One, of those very few getting national coverage, how many are not white. Two, if grandmom had not done what she is doing would you have seen Jahessye Shockley on anything but local news. Three, If the mother and father are both child abusers than it is best for the childd not to be in their homes. Do you think your idea of search warrants and lie detectors is original. Isn't it standard procedure to check out the family first. But still search for the child everywhere including your house.
by libertarian4us October 21, 2011 9:42 AM EDT
There are more abductions like this than people understand. Only a very small percentage get the sensational national media attention.
Reply to this comment
by Rolv October 21, 2011 8:04 AM EDT
There is a very easy way to get national coverage and that is to use email. I am not talking about SPAM but rather having our regular (business or personal) emails feature image and link of missing children. This is available absolutely for free at www.wrapmail.com where users can add an RSS feed from the center for missing and exploited children. To see what this looks like just send an email to info@wrapmail.com and we will reply and you will see the feed of missing children on the bottom. See also this article: http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/cover082907.htm
Reply to this comment
by biscuitrusty October 20, 2011 3:53 PM EDT
I think she is talking about tv - I saw coverage here on stations in Houston on the 10 month missing in Kansas City. I have not seen anything on this child. I think any child missing needs to put on all local tv stations so more eyes can be on the look out
Reply to this comment
by smushyface October 20, 2011 9:21 PM EDT
Yes I agree.
by allisonburness October 20, 2011 3:48 PM EDT
What is she talking about? I read about this story from day 1 on MSNBC, ABCNews, CBSNews, and CNN. It's gotten plenty of coverage. Maybe not the Today Show interview that she wants, but we're all aware of the situation and keeping our eyes open for this little girl.
Reply to this comment
by poppasgirl October 21, 2011 7:50 PM EDT
Well than she needs she needs the interview on the Today Show and anyother news outlet. Howard Stern should interview her if thats what it takes to get the child home.
by jose_z1 October 20, 2011 3:15 PM EDT
Funny how the same media that is quick to point out racism on people is itself at fault for only covering stories on missing children of a specific color..
Reply to this comment
by smushyface October 20, 2011 9:23 PM EDT
I read about missing children of every race.
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