Victim’s girlfriend among 9 South Carolina teens arrested in 16-year-old’s murder, alleged set up
Trey Dean Wright, 16, was found dead on June 24 with multiple gunshot wounds on First Neck Road in Florence County, roughly 45 miles west of Myrtle Beach, Fox News reported.
Devan Scott Raper, 19, of Conway, is accused of fatally shooting Wright in an argument over a girl and was arrested the following day by the Florence County Sheriff’s office.
But officials said Raper didn’t act alone.
In the weeks since, eight other teens have been nabbed for their alleged roles in the dark scheme and are now facing charges for setting up Wright and recording his death on video — including the poor victim’s girlfriend.
Giann Kistenmacher, Wright’s 17-year-old girlfriend, was charged with being an accessory before the fact for bringing Raper — who she knew was armed — to meet Wright and instigate a confrontation, the sheriff’s office said.
Others charged in the set-up included 18-year-olds Corrine Belviso and Hunter Kendall and 17-year-old Sydney Kearns.
Authorities have not released information on the four remaining individuals who have been charged in the crime because they are minors.
“They were complicit in bringing the armed codependent, Raper, to the incident location and knowing that there would be a confrontation,” Maj. Michael Nunn of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office told WBTW-TV.
“They knew that Raper had presented a firearm to the victim and made threats to shoot him, according to the arrest warrant,” Nunn stated.
Officers stated the motivation for the cold-blooded killing was romantic rivalry.
“They had issues with each other, and it was over a female,” Sheriff T.J. Joye told WBTW.
“The sad thing is, you got a 16-year-old that lost his life. You’ve got a 19-year-old who is going to be in jail the rest of his life. Over what?” the sheriff asked rhetorically.
Raper faces charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime and is being held without bond.
Kendall is also being held without bond, while Belviso and Kearns each posted $20,000 bonds last week and have been released pending a trial.
