REPORTER CENTRAL KITSAP
Fair time! Big acts, bulls are the highlights this year Page 12
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014 | Vol. 29, No. 45 | WWW.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM | 50¢
INCOMPREHENSIBLE
Jenise was popular, precocious
Kevan Moore/staff photo
Gabriel Zebediah Gaeta, 17, is escorted into Kitsap County Superior Court Room 212 for his initial appearance on Monday, Aug. 11. Police allege he raped and murdered East Bremerton’s 6-year-old Jenise Wright.
Teen accused of rape, murder BY KEVAN MOORE KMOORE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
Gabriel Zebediah Gaeta, 17, made his initial appearance in Kitsap County Superior Court Monday afternoon and was ordered held on a $1 million bail in the pending rape and murder case of East Bremerton’s 6-year-old Jenise Wright. Gaeta will have to undergo a mental health evaluation at Western State Hospital before charges are filed against him. He potentially faces life in prison if
convicted of first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances and first-degree rape of a child. Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge said the death penalty is off the table in this case due to Gaeta’s age. The aggravating circumstances in the case, meanwhile, involve Jenise’s young age and particular vulnerability. In court, Gaeta said very little, but confirmed his identity to Judge Kevin Hull. Gaeta also told the judge he SEE SUSPECT, A9
Kevan Moore/staff photo
An image of Jenise Paulette Wright adorns a candle at the Aug. 8 vigil for the 6-year-old East Bremerton girl whose body was found the day before. BY KEVAN MOORE KMOORE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
It was supposed to be a candlelight prayer vigil to bring Jenise Wright home. Instead, though, it became a chance for the community to come together and mourn the loss of the precocious and popular six-year-old East Bremerton girl. Hundreds of people filled the parking lot of the Crossroads Neighborhood Church Friday evening, just blocks from the Steele Creek Mobile Home Park where Jenise lived, was abducted and killed. Mary Pelnar, 14, who lives with her mom just around the corner from Jenise’s house, spoke movingly about her friend, someone she considered a little sister. She said Jenise’s fam-
ily wanted to thank those attending the vigil and if there’s anything they want to come out of this tragedy, it’s for the community to become stronger together and for peace to come in Jenise’s name. “Jenise was the perfect little girl,” Pelnar said. “I don’t know who would have ever hurt her.” Pelnar said she remembered playing dolls with Jenise and always making jokes. “I’ll miss her coming over and asking to play and I’ll miss the I-love-you’s and how she asked me to come over,” she said. “Her smile was so unique and special and her laugh was always making my day. I’ll miss our adventures to the creek and how I would hold her close so I wouldn’t lose her.
“I’ll miss everything about her, but I’ll never forget,” Pelnar added. “I’ll be reminded from the sunrise when I wake up to when I see the sun set, when I see the flowers by my house, but most of all I’ll be reminded by her loving family.” Pelnar said she hopes that whoever killed Jenise will one day pay and that she wishes she could have given Jenise one long hug before she was taken. Moana Tuitasi, 6, who was set to enter first grade with Jenise at Cottonwood Elementary School this year and rode the bus with her, brought a card and a teddy bear for her lost friend. “She’s having a really hard time dealing with it,” said Moana’s mom, Ruby. Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer spoke briefly,
promising that investigators will see Jenise’s murder case through and find justice for her. He said many of the more than 300 law enforcement officers working the case are tired, but moving forward relentlessly. He added that he, and many of them, often appear “brave and macho, but inside we’re hurting.” A pair of Jenise’s favorite songs were played during the vigil and the assembled crowd joined together in singing “Amazing Grace.” Candles were lit, balloons were released and many, many teardrops fell. SEE VIGIL, A9