A STRAMGE CASE

Deadly South Carolina Teenage Love Triangle Takes Bizarre Turn

 

by Pat Droney  

 

Law Enforcement Today

Aug 21, 2025 

(From left) Corrine Belviso, Devan Raper, Gianna Helene Kistenmacher, Hunter Kendall and Sydney Kearns.

 

FLORENCE COUNTY, SC- In a bizarre twist in a murder case, the victim’s own girlfriend was arrested as part of the plot where her boyfriend–Trey Dean Wright, 16–was found dead on June 24 with multiple gunshot wounds in this county, located about 45 miles west of Myrtle Beach, The New York Post reported, citing a Fox News Digital report. 

The shooting stemmed from an argument over a girl. The following day, Devan Scott Raper, 19, of Conway, SC, was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting. 

However, officials said Raper did not act alone. Since Wright’s body was found, eight other teens have been arrested in connection with his death, and all are facing charges for setting him up and even recording the crime on video.

Those eight include Wright's girlfriend, Gianna Kistenmacher, 17.

She was charged with being an accessory before the fact for bringing Raper, whom she knew was armed with a gun, to meet Wright and instigate a confrontation, the sheriff’s office said. 

The others charged in the plot included 18-year-olds Corinne Belviso and Hunter Kendall, and 17-year-old Sydney Kearns.

No further information is available on the the remaining four suspects because they are minors. Kistenmacher, Belviso, Kendall, and Kearns are from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 

“They were complicit in bringing the armed co-defendant, 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. Officials said the motivation behind the killing was romantic rivalry. 

 

 

Trey Dean Wright  

 

“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?” Joye asked rhetorically. 

Raper is facing charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime and is being held without bond, officials said. 

Kendall is also being held without bond, while Belviso and Kearns each posted $20,000 bonds last week and were released pending trial. Kistenmacher was released on bond under strict conditions. 

Judge William Seals ordered the suspects not to have contact with other suspects charged in the crime. They may only attend work, church, school, medical, and legal appointments, and cannot be involved in other criminal activity. 

According to arrest warrants for the suspects, they state they committed the offense of murder by bringing the armed co-defendant to the incident location with knowledge there would be a confrontation and violence, along with the propensity of death due to statements made by Raper in their presence, ABC-15 reported.