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June 11, 2014
When a Lafourche Parish judge found Jeremiah Wright not guilty of murder because he was adjudged insane, an order was immediately issued for the 32-year-old killer to go to a psychiatric hospital.
District Judge John LeBlanc issued that order in February. But the response to the order was not so immediate. So Wright remains at the Lafourche parish jail awaiting transport, which could occur in days or weeks but might not come for months.
Wright confessed to killing his disabled, 7-year-old son, Jori Lirette, in 2011.
The boy was decapitated and dismembered. He was charged with first-degree murder. Jori Lirette had cerebral palsy and heart problems, needed a feeding tube and used a wheelchair.
An employee of the state’s Office of Mental Health, who asked not to be identified because she is not authorized to speak to the media, said Wright is third on the waiting list for transfer into the Eastern Louisiana State Hospital, which provides intensive psychiatric care under heavy security. The employee did not know how long that would take, if it will be a matter of weeks or months.
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital’s staff were asked for details Thursday but did not have answers by press time.
Deputy Brennan Matherne, a spokesman for Lafourche Sheriff Craig Webre, said the cost of housing Wright is about $4 per day.
Wright is housed in a cellblock with inmates awaiting trial for murder and other serious charges.
A caseworker checks on him every few weeks, Matherne said.
Jeremiah Wright is escorted to his competency hearing by Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Deputies. Wright is accused of the first-degree murder of Jori Lirette, his 7-year-old disabled son.
