Teen girl’s death ruled a homicide

Manchester youth was strangled, examiner finds

A 13-year-old girl found dead in Manchester on Friday morning was strangled, according to the state’s Chief Medical Examiner’s office. Her death, officially caused by compression of the neck, has been ruled a homicide.

Zaniya Wright, a seventh grader at Illing Middle School, was reported missing by her mother, Marissa Boose, on Thursday night. Her body was found Friday about 8:30 a.m. in a common area of the basement of the South Adams Apartments, 40 Olcott St., police spokesman Lt. Ryan Shea said.

Boose had left her in the care of a friend who lives in the apartment complex. A teenage boy also lives in the home, Zaniya’s grandmother, Anna Boose, said. When Marissa Boose returned to pick up her daughter, she was not there.

Detectives spent Saturday processing evidence, Shea said.

“Our entire detective bureau is dedicated to this case,” he said. “We’re dedicating all resources we can to this investigation.”

Shea said Manchester police are receiving assistance from the chief state’s attorney’s office and the state police major crimes division. Shea said Friday that police have identified a person of interest, a juvenile who was with the girl before she was reported missing, but no charges had been filed as of Saturday evening.

Anna Boose said her granddaughter was a quiet girl who had been bullied at school. School officials did not comment on whether Zaniya had been bullied at school, but offered condolences. Counselors were available to students at the school.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 860-645-5500, or call the lead investigator, Detective Jeremy Curtis, at 860-643-3302.