Teen Charged in Fatal Shooting of Boyfriend Requests Eased Bond for College Dorm Life
An 18-year-old facing murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of her 16-year-old boyfriend has requested that a court ease her release restrictions. The defendant is seeking permission to live in a college dormitory, use social media, and have electronic monitoring removed while awaiting trial.
An 18-year-old defendant charged in connection with the fatal shooting of her boyfriend has asked the court to relax her pretrial bond conditions so she can experience campus living and attend college without current restrictions, according to reporting by ABC 15 News and TMZ.
Gianna Kistenmacher, who stands accused alongside eight other individuals in the 2025 killing of 16-year-old Trey Wright, submitted a legal motion requesting that the court eliminate her GPS ankle monitor and terminate an overnight curfew. The filing also requests that she be granted permission to access social media platforms and apply to residential academic programs away from home.
Prosecutors allege that Kistenmacher played a central role in the deadly confrontation by bringing 19-year-old Devan Raper to Wright's residence. According to investigative details reported by Court TV, Raper and Wright had previously engaged in disputes on social media concerning Raper spending time with Kistenmacher. Authorities allege that Kistenmacher traveled to Wright's home with Raper while knowing he was armed and that violence was likely to occur.
Reporting from Court TV outlines that nine teenagers traveled in a vehicle to Wright's home during the incident. When Wright walked out toward the vehicle where Raper was seated, Raper allegedly fired a gun into Wright's chest, inflicting fatal injuries. Kistenmacher was subsequently arrested and indicted on murder charges along with eight other co-defendants in connection with the fatal shooting.
Following her release on bond on July 28, 2025, Kistenmacher was initially placed under strict house arrest. In February, a judge modified those terms, lifting the total home confinement order and replacing it with an overnight curfew, as reported by ABC 15 News. Kistenmacher currently attends a local college commuter program while residing under those modified terms.
In her latest legal filing, defense counsel argued that Kistenmacher has maintained full compliance with every court-ordered condition since her July 2025 release. The defense maintains that modifying the bond terms would permit her to submit applications to other institutions of higher learning, reside in a standard campus dormitory, and engage in typical student activities while her criminal proceedings remain pending.
Legal counsel for Kistenmacher has previously maintained her innocence regarding allegations that she planned or orchestrated the fatal encounter. Her defense team has publicly argued that she did not orchestrate the deadly encounter and noted that she traveled directly to the hospital following the shooting in an effort to be with Wright after he was injured.
Kulture Newz has not independently confirmed whether prosecutors have formally filed an objection to the defense motion, and court dates regarding the request have not yet been announced.