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Hundreds gather to remember Jenise Wright

Several hundred people turned out Friday night for a vigil to honor a 6-year-old Washington girl found murdered several days after she disappeared from her Bremerton-area home.

BREMERTON, Wash. — They prayed, sang and lit candles to remember the 6-year-old and her family. Jenise's parents did not attend. Bishop Chris Byron met with the parents said they just weren't up to it. He said the parents are leaning on each other.

Authorities say an autopsy has confirmed that a body found in the woods near the mobile home park where Jenise Wright lived was that of the little girl who vanished last weekend. Her death has been ruled a homicide.

Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer repeated a promise made earlier in the day when the little girl was formally identified. He said while Jenise is gone, "We can and we will find justice for her."

The parents have been cooperating with investigators and say they are confident detectives will find who killed Jenise.

Investigators in Bremerton released new information Friday morning about the search for the person who killed Jenise.

Since Friday morning, authorities have received more tips.

Kitsap County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Wilson said the person who left the child’s body in a wooded field with heavy brush off State Route 303 would likely have been covered in mud.

Wilson said the body was found in a somewhat hilly area that was very muddy and did not receive much sunlight.

“They're going to have muddy footwear, whether their shoes or boots. They'll have muddy pants and quite likely, a muddy shirt.  If you know somebody who had or was covered in mud, or know somebody who had a favorite item of clothing or shoewear and disposed of it, that's something investigators need to know and would like to talk to you about,” said Wilson.

Investigators are still asking for tips from the public and urged anyone to report any kind of suspicious activity that happened in the mobile home park from Friday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 3.

The number to call is 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Investigators have been asking residents in the mobile home park to voluntarily provide a DNA sample swab from their mouths.

The Sheriff's Office said the swabs are more of a ruling-out process than anything else.