Authorities arrest teen in death of 6-year-old Bremerton girl



EAST BREMERTON --  FBI agents arrested a 17-year-old boy for the death and rape of 6-year-old Jenise Wright, authorities said at a news conference Saturday.

Agents took the suspect into custody around 2:50 p.m. without incident. They say he lived at home with his parents in the same mobile home park as the Wright family.

According to Kitsap County Deputy Sheriff Scott Wilson, detectives got probable cause to arrest the suspect after collecting forensic data. The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab was able to forensically connect the suspect to the death of the child.

"We promised yesterday that we would find justice for Janise," Wilson said. "Today, we have reached a major milestone toward delivering on that promise."

No further details were released.



Authorities are not identifying the suspect at this time. The teen will be booked for 2nd degree murder, 1st degree manslaughter and rape of a child.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in Kitsap County District Court at 3:00 p.m. Monday. A judge will review the charges and consider bail.



Jenise was last seen Saturday night at her home. Jenise’s parents have said they would allow Jenise to walk through the neighborhood on her own and thought when they woke up Sunday morning that Jenise was already out playing. When she didn’t return home Sunday night, the parents called police.

The girl’s disappearance struck the tight-knit community, and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Wilson said hundreds of tips poured in since Sunday on the missing girl.

Jenise’s body was found in a wooded area near her mobile home park Thursday. Officials said it was an FBI team with specially trained dogs that found the remains.

The Washington State Patrol has volunteered the use of their crime lab to help with DNA testing. People in and around Jenise’s neighborhood have been voluntarily giving their DNA samples during the past few days.

Remembering Jenise

The girl’s disappearance shook the tight-knit community.

There were hugs, tears and prayers as a community came together at a memorial Friday night for 6-year-old Jenise.

Jenise’s mother did not attend the vigil, but asked her bishop to speak on the family’s behalf.

“She’s very thankful for all the prayers that have been offered; she said she’s felt them,” said Bishop Chris Byron of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. “But she wanted me to express that for now, it’s too hard to even leave the house.”

The bishop is inviting the community -- especially the volunteers who searched for Jenise -- to a service next Saturday, August 16th at 1:00 p.m. at the LDS Church located at 9256 Nels Nelson Road in Bremerton.



Stay with Q13 FOX News for the latest on this developing story.