Parents of malnourished daughter face charges of attempted murder
An Oahu grand jury indicted the parents of an 11-year-old girl last week on charges of attempted murder after their daughter was found severely underweight and malnourished six months ago.
Police arrested Melvin Wright Jr., 33, at 11 a.m. yesterday at his home on Waiopae Street in Royal Kunia and Denise M. Wright, 33, last week. The two are scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.
Their daughter has been in state custody since Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to a call at her apartment on Kinau Street on Jan. 7.
She was taken to Kapiolani Medical Center and weighed about 35 to 40 pounds, about half of what a healthy 11-year-old should weigh.
The girl was placed in state custody while police were investigating the case.
"She is in a foster home where her needs are being met," Derick Dahilig, Child Protective Services spokesman, said yesterday.
Beginning in June 2006 up until January, the couple failed to support and supply the medical care needed for their daughter, last Tuesday's grand jury indictment said. Their bail is set at $100,000.
According to court records, the couple was charged in 2000 with a misdemeanor of endangering the welfare of a minor.
Both were granted a one-year deferral when Denise Wright pleaded guilty and Melvin Wright pleaded no contest.