The mother of Trey Dean Wright, a 16-year-old boy tragically killed after being lured to his death and filmed during his final moments, has opened up about the pain and complexity behind her son’s fatal romance. Trey once called his girlfriend “a dream come true,” but their relationship ended in tragedy.
On June 24, 2025, Trey was shot multiple times on a rural road in Florence County, South Carolina. Emergency responders found him lying in the street with gunshot wounds, and he later died at a hospital. The cruelty of the last moments was captured on camera by one of the teens involved.
Authorities arrested 19-year-old Devin Scott Raper the day after the shooting; he is charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the crime. Investigators say a verbal fight over a girl led to the deadly shooting.
Then, on June 30, police took into custody 17-year-old Gianna Helene Kistenmacher, Trey’s girlfriend, accused of luring Trey to the remote location knowing Raper was armed and that violence was likely. She faces charges as an accessory before the fact.
Kistenmacher, daughter of a police officer, was part of two groups of teens who traveled over an hour inland where Trey was fatally shot. The sheriff described the incident as a tragic fallout between two people over a female.
Trey’s mother, Ashley Lindsey, described her son’s girlfriend as a “queen bee” who instigated the deadly conflict by picking a fight that escalated beyond control. Despite accusations of infidelity against Trey, he was reportedly with family before the confrontation.
Lindsey struggles to accept the narrative of a simple love triangle, insisting Trey’s feelings for Gianna were genuine and that the tragedy was the result of a childish quarrel that got out of hand. “He told me two days before he died, being with Gianna was like a dream come true,” she says.
Major Mike Nunn of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office explained that videos taken that night made it impossible for anyone involved to deny what occurred, providing clear evidence during the investigation.
In addition to Raper and Kistenmacher, seven other teenagers from Myrtle Beach have been charged in connection with Trey’s murder, some facing serious felony charges. Police expect a tenth suspect will also surrender soon. The “hand of one is the hand of all” law means all involved may face similar consequences.
Trey was a high school athlete and hard-working teenager with passions like dirt biking, fishing, and spending time outdoors. His mother describes him as “one in a million,” whose kindness and happiness touched many.
For Ashley Lindsey, the fight for justice continues, driven by the love and memories of her son taken far too soon. This heartbreaking story reminds us of how quickly youthful quarrels can turn tragic and the devastating consequences of violence.
