Father of Raped, Slain 6-Year-Old Daughter Forgives Murderer: 'How Can I be in God's Grace if I Don't Forgive?'
The family of a raped and murdered six-year-old girl have said that they are relying on their faith through this time and have forgiven their daughter's killer.
"Gabe was tempted by the fallen," James Wright, whose daughter Jenise was found murdered a few days after she disappeared, told the Kitsap Sun. Her suspected murderer, 17-year-old Gabriel Gaeta, is currently in jail in lieu of $1 million.
"With the free will given by our Father, he chose wrong. I've already forgiven him. How can I be in (God's) grace if I don't' forgive?" Wright asked.
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Wright and his wife Denise both want justice for their daughter, but also want to extend forgiveness and mercy to her killer. They want Gaeta's family to be left out of the conversation, as Gabriel was the only one involved in the rape and killing. The Gaeta family has reportedly been threatened with death by those wanting revenge for Jenise's death.
"I just want everybody to stop," Denise said. "It's not their fault this happened. Just blame him, not his family."
It's believed that Wright took Jenise, raped and killed her, then moved her body. His DNA was found at the scene and led police right to him. They took him into custody and have kept him there based on the evidence surrounding the murder. A judge set his bail at $1 million and ordered a mental health hearing to determine whether he is fit to stand trial. Prosecutors want to charge Gaeta as an adult.
One year ago he reportedly made ominous comments about killing people and watching children cry.
"What's the latest thing that made you smile?" a person asked him on the Ask.fm website.
"A child crying," Gaeta responded.
"Wanna Fight?" another user asked.
"No, I don't fight. I just kill people until the point where they're dead," Gaeta said.
In an interesting twist, the Wright family knows something about what Gaeta is going through. Wright was arrested in 2000 on felony charges of child molestation; in 2001 the charges were amended and included new charges from the babysitter of the molestation victim. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of assault from the babysitter; his prison sentence was suspended, provided that he followed certain conditions.
When Jenise went missing, the three Wright children were removed from their home and placed in the care of their older siblings. The Wrights have a hearing to determine whether they will regain custody, but in the meantime have been allowed visitation.
"It's hard to be separated. I love them so much," Denise told KIRO-TV. "I miss my other daughter I can't hold anymore. I just want my kids back. They're the most important thing I want back right now."
"I want my kids home. They need to come home now," Wright added. "It's over. It's closure – now we need to heal. Who knows how long that's going to take?"
