Six-year-old Jenise Wright, whose remains were found in the woods near the trailer park where she lived with her parents and two siblings in Bremerton, WA, was one of those children who never had a chance. She was a trusting, loving little girl who never met a stranger and she was apparently given free rein to run wild and unsupervised from the time she was only three-years-old. As a result she will never celebrate her seventh birthday.
Jenise Wright’s Parents
As difficult as it is to look past her father’s criminal history, it is his comments since Jenise disappeared that are particularly troubling. I want to be clear that the foundation for my concerns is based on my own reaction and state of mind when Polly disappeared more than 20-years ago. One of the many life changing experiences that are still seared into my brain was the immediate, laser focus I was able to achieve upon learning that Polly had been kidnapped. There was no ambiguity about my purpose, or question as to my intent. My job, for better or worse, was to find Polly.
However, the day after Jenise was reported missing her father told a local reporter that, “my mind is still spinning”. I can understand psychological or spiritual turmoil because I too grappled with both of those emotions, but intellectually I was in blinders with one goal in mind. To complicate matters even more so, James Wright called his missing daughter “a spoiled little brat” and “the princess of the household” who “always gets her way most of the time.” I am at a total loss as to why, given the gravity of the situation, the father of a missing child would characterize her in such unflattering terms. He should be investing people in the search for Jenise, not whining about her perceived shortcoming.
Hillary Clinton popularized the term it takes a village to raise a child, but she did not mean that as an excuse to defer parental responsibility and allow friends, neighbors, and strangers to assist in that role. Combined with Mr. Wright’s criminal history and his odd behavior and statements since the search started and a very troubling possibility rears its ugly head.
Finally, the omission of any statement from the authorities warning the community that a cold blooded killer is on the loose speaks volumes.
The Parents still should have been WITH their daughter at all times. Not only weren’t they supervising her, they let her just roam all around the neighborhood day in and day out without going to look for her or feeding her or anything!! A SIX year-old should be WITH an adult, ALWAYS!!!!! I’m so sorry Jenise, you deserved so much better from this world. <3
I was so wrong, and I am so sorry.
I guess the outcome of this tragedy proves that while he Father may not be the best person in the world we can’t ever jump to conclusions about what may or may not have happened in any case. If the police had only concentrated their efforts of investigation on the father the true perpetrator of this crime may never have been caught.
I thought the words Jenise’s father chose were strange at first. However, I remembered what my Child Psychology professor taught me during our first day of class about one person’s terms of endearment are another person’s disgust. I do think these parents are somewhat culpable, however I do think the father was using “terms of endearment”.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…Matthew 12:34
This is so true about listening to people’s words. I was married to a guy who thought of himself as a “great salesman”. I now realized he meant “great liar”.
And most of the time you cannot even get anyone to listen to you when you know someone has committed a crime. They just look at you and ask…”Well, why would he do that?”
As I have said from the beginning, it is far to improbable that a girl whose father is a convicted child molester is abducted by another child molester (unless they run in packs). Furthermore, the mother apparently had no problems with her husband’s history, and the fact that the parents did not call the police for 12 hours after their six-year-old became missing, speaks volumes. More often than not, family members are involved, like six months ago when the 12-year-old brother of 8-year-old Leila Fowler said that buglers broke in and murdered his sister and it turned out that he himself was the killer. Would that someone today could have done a less than bumbling reinvestigation of the Adam Walsh murder.
Upon hearing of Mr Wright’s Criminal History…Sadly, there was no doubt in my mind. Now adding to the list the points you have brought up here Marc…Only secured the heart wrenching believe over who was responsible for the disappearance and murder of little Jenise…Cases of Child molestation should NEVER be allowed to be plead down!!! Plea deals allow child predators “turn style Justice”…They rarely do time, and have a limited parole if any…MINIMUM MANDATORY 25 years to Life!!!! Since our politicians, in my opinion, are too afraid to pass the appropriate laws that would give appropriate Justice…THE DEATH PENALTY!!!
I am always very interested in what Marc Klaas has to say because of his terrible loss of daughter Polly. I don’t think anyone will ever forget the murder of his daughter and how he was brought in for questioning which is all part of the investigation. His reaction was cooperative and his soul was grieving as he was clearly pining for his very beautiful daughter. What torment this father must have gone through and further down when they did catch this horrible little man and what he said in court, he should have been shot right then and there because in my mind he was beneath contempt. Marc Klaas has a very painful journey ahead but is always willing to help other crippled families dealing with murder of a loved one. Such is the case here with this darling little girl who seemed to beam with giggles and joy. Now the bright spark of her life has dimmed but I will never forget this loving, happy little girl. For Polly and now for Jenise and all the children who are kidnapped and murdered and parents like Polly’s may God Bless them all.
Wow Marc, I had no idea he made those comments about his daughter. You’re right, Jenise never had a chance. I hope justice is swift.
When I first heard about this little girl I had a bad feeling, what parent allows their 6yr. old child to wander around at all hours. In my gut I think the father had something to do with this. This was a tragedy waiting to happen. I am sick about this.