ROOKE: Shocking Teen Murder Exposes Eerie Reason Parents Should Be Wary Of Modern Dating

The terrifying murder of a South Carolina teen, allegedly carried out by his girlfriend and her accomplices, adds to the worries parents have when letting their children enter the dating world.

From all accounts, 16-year-old Trey Wright was in love with his cheerleader girlfriend before she allegedly lured him to a brutal death. The two teens had only been dating for a couple of months, but he excitedly told his family that dating 17-year-old Gianna Kistenmacher “felt like a dream come true,” Fox News reported Aug. 28.

“They knew each other, far as I know, no longer than two months,” his 35-year-old single mother, Ashley Lindsey, told the outlet.

“Every time she came to see him, he made a point of being around me with her, like he wanted me to get to know her,” Lindsey said. “Because he truly liked her and enjoyed spending time with her.”

But things changed quickly. After an argument between Wright and Kistenmacher on the night of his murder, she and a group of teens allegedly drove about an hour to Wright’s friend’s house, where he was spending the night. One of Kistenmacher’s friends, 19-year-old Devan Raper, is accused of fatally shooting Wright.

There are nine teens between 17 and 19 years old accused of playing a role in the setup and the shooting that ended Wright’s life. Seven of the teens are being charged as adults, and two others charged as juveniles. One of the teens allegedly recorded the slaying on video.

Victim’s girlfriend among 9 South Carolina teens arrested in 16-year-old’s murder, alleged set up https://t.co/0KCqLRjiX0 pic.twitter.com/xlkB0bWZB2

— New York Post (@nypost) August 16, 2025

One of the more disturbing parts of the case is that after Kistenmacher allegedly conspired to have Wright murdered, she reportedly showed up at the hospital where he was fighting for his life. (Sign up for Mary Rooke’s weekly newsletter here!)

“She even went to the hospital after he was shot,” his mother said of Kistenmacher. “I hugged her neck and was comforting her because I didn’t know.”

It’s tragedies like this that highlight just how broken our world has become. We’ve lost our humanity and the value of human life.

Everyone involved in Wright’s death should face the harshest punishments under the law. If we are now going after the parents of mass shooters, then I would also argue that the parents of teen killers also need to face punishment for neglecting to teach their children that all life has meaning. This wasn’t self-defense; it was premeditation. At the sentencing, the judge needs to make it clear that the reason they are getting the maximum penalties for the murder is because of their lack of respect for human life.

Nine South Carolina teens were arrested in the June shooting death of a 16-year-old who authorities say was involved in an argument “over a girl” with his alleged shooter, according to local reports. The victim’s 17-year-old girlfriend is among the suspects. pic.twitter.com/1emTbLR4FJ

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 17, 2025

What worries me most is how this will impact future teen connections. Dating is a crucial part of transitioning into adulthood. We need our teens learning how to have healthy relationships with the opposite sex while they are still in the safety of their families. Their first relationship, love, and broken heart should all be handled within the care of their parents, who can help guide them through these moments. (After Explicit Survey, Ed Department Battering Ram Sets Out-Of-Control Blue State Schools In Its Sights)

There is a massive emphasis on protecting women, but we often overlook the depressing plight of young men and what they face when looking for their match. As a mother of four girls, I worry that the way we treat men is going to cause a shortage of courageous, strong males for them to marry. But with what happened to Wright and others who have been falsely accused in our ‘MeToo’-obsessed society, I don’t blame them (or their parents) for being wary of dating.

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