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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 10:28 p.m., Sunday, July 8, 2007

Mother charged with attempted murder of daughter

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 33-year-old woman was arrested Friday in Mo'ili'ili on a $100,000 warrant charging her with second-degree attempted murder stemming from an investigation into the malnourished condition of her daughter.

East Honolulu Crime Reduction Unit officers arrested Denise Wright without incident at her Varsity Circle apartment at 9:45 a.m.

Wright was booked on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder and was being held at the main police station cellblock, pending a tentative Circuit Court appearance today.

Wright's grand jury indictment July 3 came nearly six months after Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to a Jan. 7 call to 809 Kina'u St. and found that her 11-year-old daughter was extremely malnourished. The child was taken to Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children, and the state assumed foster custody of her.

Police and the state Department of Human Services conducted an investigation to determine whether the girl was a victim of abuse and neglect or suffered from an eating disorder.

Child Welfare Services maintained foster custody of the child when the investigation was completed.

In 2000, the girl's parents were charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, a petty misdemeanor. Wright pleaded guilty and the girl's father no contest. Both were granted deferred acceptance pleas allowing them the opportunity to have the offense removed from their records pending a year of probation with no criminal offenses.


Correction: Denise Wright was booked on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder. A previous version of this story included incorrect charges.