BREMERTON, Wash. As the Central Kitsap School District prepares for the start of a new school year, school leaders are addressing a loss that has affected two of their families.
Investigators said incoming first grader Jenise Wright was killed by 17-year old Gabe Gaeta, who would have been entering Olympic High School in Bremerton as a senior.
Faculty and parents said the accusations against one of their own students have already left an impact.
The staff here I m sure is extremely saddened by this and we re going to support each other as we go through it, said Olympic High School s Technology Instructor Brandon Brown, who taught Gaeta s older brother.
Brown said the district has informed all the faculty at Olympic High School of the situation involving school athlete Gaeta, who s accused of raping and murdering 6-year old Jenise Wright. Wright had been missing for days before her body was discovered in the woods.
School district leaders are working to use a crisis response team that will be in the schools on the first day of classes. Parents and students said the Gaetas were a well-known family. His siblings had also attended the school and were active in both wrestling and football like the 17-year old accused killer.
I know most of their family and they are good people and this is so tragic, said Ryan Desoto, who played football with the Gaeta brothers. The whole family is wonderful. His older brother, I looked up to him. He was the captain.
First day of school at Central Kitsap School District is September 3, but parents said the football coach already had a meeting with players Monday about this situation and offered support.
