The Unsolved Death of 12-Year-Old Josette Wright in Putnam County

The Tragic Disappearance

In November 1994, 12-year-old Josette Wright disappeared from her home in Putnam County, New York. Her mother, frantic and worried, reported her missing, setting off a large-scale search operation. Over a year later, in December 1995, Josette’s body was discovered in a remote wooded area, bound and gagged—gruesome evidence of a brutal crime. Despite extensive investigations, the case remains unsolved, with no one yet brought to justice for her death.

The Investigation and Initial Arrests

In 1996, local authorities arrested two teenagers, Andrew Krivak and his best friend, Anthony DiPippo, in connection with Josette's murder. Krivak’s confession, made after hours of intense police questioning, was central to the case. However, doubts about the confession’s authenticity soon emerged, as some believed it had been coerced under pressure. Additionally, a key witness, Denise Rose, who claimed to have seen the two teens with Josette prior to her death, altered her testimony several times, further complicating the case.

Complications and New Evidence

As the years passed, both Krivak and DiPippo maintained their innocence, and in 2016, DiPippo was acquitted after a retrial, with new evidence pointing to a possible alternative suspect, Robert Gombert. Gombert, who was later convicted of child sex crimes in Connecticut, had a potential link to the case, but the authorities had not previously considered him a viable suspect. This revelation ultimately led to Krivak’s conviction being overturned in 2019.

The Ongoing Mystery

Despite these developments, Josette’s killer has never been definitively identified. The case remains open, and her family still seeks justice. With no closure after nearly three decades, Josette’s tragic death continues to haunt the community, leaving more questions than answers.