Arizona woman to be sentenced in death of 5-year-old daughter whose body was never found

PHOENIX – An Arizona mother was expected to be sentenced in the death of her 5-year-old daughter whose body was never found.

Defendant Jerice Hunter was convicted in April of first-degree murder and child abuse in the death of Jhessye Shockley.

Prosecutors say the child was beaten, neglected and confined to a closet before being dumped in a trash bin in 2011.

The girl's body wasn't found, even though officers picked through 9,500 tons of garbage at landfills.

The 41-year-old Hunter contended she was innocent and her lawyers said there was no proof the girl was dead.