UPDATE: Arrest in the murder death of 6-year-old girl in Washington State

UPDATE: A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the murder of six-year-old Jenise Wright. Police say the accused killer was one of her neighbours. He was arrested at his home this afternoon and will be charged with rape of a child and second degree murder. 

VANCOUVER – The FBI and the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office in Washington State are continuing their investigation into the death of a six-year-old girl.

Jenise Paulette Wright, from East Bremerton in Washington State, was reported missing on Sunday, August 3. She lived in the Steele Creek Mobile Home Park, located off Old Military Road.

The young girl was last seen when she went to bed Saturday night but her parents did not report her missing until Sunday evening. They said that is because she had wandered around the mobile home park by herself in the past. They are cooperating with authorities.

Her body was found on August 7 and identified on August 8. It was found by special agents and professional staff from the FBI’s Evidence Research Team in a forested area in the vicinity of Steele Creek Mobile Home Park.

Sheriff’s office spokesman Scott Wilson said earlier Friday that the area where her body was found contained thick brush and likely was muddy. He said the person responsible for the girl’s disappearance likely would have been covered in mud.

Her death has been ruled a homicide.

Jenise Wright’s father, James Wright, was charged more than a decade ago with molesting two girls, ages 8 and 15, according to court records but the charges were later dropped.

The FBI is now hoping the public can help provide any clues as to what happened to Jenise and identify any persons of interest in her death.

The FBI’s national tip line, 1-800- CALL-FBI, was activated on Monday for this case and remains open.

– With files from The Associated Press