Colorad Mother Billie Jean Dunn arrested three months after her daughter, 13, went missing

The mother of a 13-year-old cheerleader who vanished almost three months ago has been arrested.

Billie Jean Dunn, 33, appeared before a magistrate this moing accused of lying about her ex-boyfriend's whereabouts. Police have previously named him as a person of interest in the case.

Cheerleader Hailey Dunn was reported missing on December 28 last year, prompting a massive search in her small home town of Colorado City, Texas.

Her mother now faces charges of obstructing justice after trying to stop police issuing a search warrant on her ex-boyfriend, Shawn Adkins.

Both Dunn and  Adkins - the last person to see Hailey before she disappeared -  failed polygraph tests set by investigators in January. 

A police affidavit at the time also revealed Adkins told a relative hurting a teenager would be like 'killing a deer', and he and Dunn were fixated on serial killers and slasher movies.

Dunn was arrested last night at her home after police officers arrived to issue a search warrant on Adkins, 25.

Mitchell County Sheriff Patrick Toombs said at first she lied and told them he wasn't there, but when they searched the house they found Adkins inside, according to the Abilene News-Reporter.

As a result she was arrested on charges of hindering apprehension and prosecution.

Accused: Billie Dunn leaves court after her arraignment this moing on charges of obstructing justice, three months after her daughter went missing

She also faces charges of possessing dangerous drugs, which the newspaper claims is connected to a prescription medicine officers found on Dunn.

She was held oveight at Mitchell County Jail and appeared at the courthouse this moing for her arraignment, handcuffed and dressed in an orange jumpsuit.

Dunn declined the offer of an attoey and was taken back into custody until she can post bail, which was set at $6,500.

Sheriff Toombs would not reveal what the search warrant was for, or whether they found anything when they searched Adkins.

Arrested: Billie Dunn is accused of lying about her ex-boyfriend's whereabouts when police tried to issue a search warrant on him

In February police found almost 109,000 images and videos showing 'deviant acts' on a computer and hard drive at Adkins's mother's house. The images included child poography and bestiality, according to the Abilene News-Reporter.

Adkins and Dunn have both denied any involvement in Hailey's disappearance. Adkins told police he last saw the girl on December 27, when she told him she was going to her father's home and then to spend the night at a friend's house.

But she never showed up at either house, and left home without any belongings, cash or her new iPod. 

Last sightings: Hailey Dunn, left, is pictured with her mother Billie Dunn and her mother's boyfriend, Shawn Adkins, just three days before she went missing

Search: Police have previously named Shawn Adkins as a person of interest in the case, and they issued a search warrant on him last night

Her disappearance brought anguish to her small home town. Friends and neighbours held candelit vigils for Hailey and volunteers combed through fields, woods and landfills, retracing steps taken by police in their search.

More than 100 billboards bearing her image have been put up along the interstate in West Texas and neighbouring states.

Sniffer dogs had tracked the girl's scent to a motel in Colorado City and a downstairs room, but no further evidence was found.

There is a $15,000 reward for any information which helps find the teenager.