Teen arrested in sexual assault, death of missing Washington girl

A 17-year-old has been arrested in the sexual assault and killing of a 6-year-old girl who disappeared from her family’s Washington home six days ago, law enforcement officials said Saturday.

Jenise Wright, who vanished from the mobile home park where her family lives in east Bremerton, Wash., on Sunday, was found dead Thursday. Her death was ruled a homicide Friday, law enforcement officials have said.

The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI announced the arrest late Saturday afternoon. The suspect, identified only as a 17-year-old, was arrested at his home shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday, police said during a news conference.

“We promised yesterday that we would find justice for Jenise,” read a statement issued by the Sheriff’s Office. “Today, we have reached a major milestone toward delivering on that promise.”

The suspect was arrested at a residence in the same mobile home park where Jenise disappeared last weekend, the Sheriff’s Office said.

He was being interviewed by detectives late Saturday afternoon, and will face murder, manslaughter and rape charges, police said.

Jenise was reported missing around 10 a.m. Sunday. She was last seen leaving the family home the night before. She had left home on “previous occasions and wandered around the neighborhood together with siblings or friends” but normally checked in every few hours, authorities said.

Her body was discovered Thursday in a wooded area not far from the mobile home park. She is survived by her parents and six siblings.

The 17-year-old suspect will make his first appearance in court on Aug. 11, police said.

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