MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Jenise Wright’s siblings to remain out of family home for time being

Aug 19, 2014, 5:36 AM | Updated: 10:53 am

The siblings of murdered 6-year-old Jenise Wright will continue staying with their grandparents following a custody hearing Monday in Port Orchard.

Wright’s parents, Jim and Denise, appeared in court Monday to discuss the status of the three children – a 12-year-old girl and two boys, 8 and 16 – removed from the home the day after they reported Jenise missing, KING 5’s Drew Mikkelson tells KIRO Radio.

While the Wrights could have challenged the temporary order, they agreed to wait until a formal hearing Oct. 14 and 15 in Port Orchard.

Investigators found the 6-year-old’s body Aug. 7 in the woods just outside the mobile home park where the family lives. Neighbor Gabriel Z. Gaeta, 17, was arrested and is held on suspicion of sexual assault and murder.

The siblings have been staying with their maternal grandparents in Bremerton. Authorities have refused to disclose why the children were taken into protective custody Aug.4

The court has allowed the Wrights visitation with the children and they tell Mikkelson they are resigned to waiting for the legal proceeding despite the pain of being separated from their children.

“He (Jim) wants his kids with him so they can share together and grieve together the loss of Jenise,” Mikkelson says.

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