Denise Wright posted this picture of her daughter, Jenise, on Facebook. The family has set up an account at Chase Bank, the Jenise Wright Donation Account, to help with funeral and other costs.
A 17-year-old from Washington will be charged as an adult for the murder of a six-year-old girl whose mother is a member of the Nooksack Tribe. Jenise Wright was killed on August 2. The family's neighbor, Gabriel Z. Gaeta, has been charged with first-degree murder, felony murder and first-degree rape of a child. “It’s devastating. It almost would have been easier if it was a stranger,” James Wright, Jenise's father, told The Seattle Times. He told the paper that Gaeta had been to their house "many, many times." The couple's two children were removed from the home after Jenise's death. They are currently in the custody of their two adult siblings, along with a third child who had been staying with the adult siblings during the weekend of the crime, the Times reported. The couple is fighting to regain custody of their children. The tribe wants to be involved in proceedings, the Times reported. Get the Story:
Teen's murder arrest prompts Bremerton school to respond (KING 5 News 8/12)
Jenise Wright murder suspect caught police’s eyes days before arrest (The Seattle Times 8/12)
Wash. teen, 17, raped and murdered 6-year-old neighbor, attended vigil for girl before arrest: police (The New York Daily News 8/12)
Teen held on $1 million bail in death of girl, 6 (AP 8/11)
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