PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — Gabe Gaeta was charged Friday with the rape and murder of 6-year-old Jenise Wright. He hid under a coat to hide his face as he walked into court.
Gaeta, 17, was arrested Aug. 9, two days after the little girl’s body was found in the woods behind the Steele Creek Mobile Home Park in Bremerton.
Prosecutors were waiting for the results of a mental health evaluation before filing charges.
In court Friday, prosecutors said there were problems getting Gaeta transported to Western State Hospital for the competency evaluation. The mental health facility didn’t have a bed for the 17-year-old, who is being charged as an adult. Both parties agreed to have Gaeta evaluated in the jail instead.
“Hopefully, by having the competency evaluation happen at the jail, it will speed up the process because he doesn’t have to be shipped down to Western State Hospital,” said Kitsap County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kelly Montgomery.
Gaeta switched defense attorneys Friday. His new attorney is based closer to Port Orchard where Gaeta is locked up.
Coincidentally, his new defense attorney, Jeniece LaCross, has the same first name as the victim, Jenise.
Gaeta will be arraigned on the charges next month after the results of the mental health evaluation. If he is convicted of the murder and rape charges, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
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