Staunton, VA – Kaylee Turner, 21, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Seth Wallace, the former best friend of her boyfriend, Dustin Dove. Turner entered her plea just hours after Dove, 24, received a life sentence for the murder.
The Murder of Seth Wallace
The crime occurred in May 2024, when Dustin Dove killed 22-year-old Seth Wallace, believing that Wallace had been “inappropriate” with Turner while Dove was in jail. Turner and Dove were involved in a romantic relationship, and Wallace had been best friends with Dove before the deadly altercation.
Staunton News Leader reported that the relationship between Dove and Wallace began to deteriorate after Dove’s conviction on drug charges in early 2024, with Turner telling Dove that Wallace had acted inappropriately towards her.
Hostile Texts and Pre-Murder Tensions
As tensions between Dove and Wallace escalated, the two men began exchanging hostile text messages, some of which were read aloud in court by a digital forensics expert. Messages such as, “Dog, I’m going to destroy you,” and, “I’m going to get away with it,” painted a picture of the mounting animosity between them.
Turner was involved in this communication and was aware of Dove’s intentions. The messages suggested that the conflict between the two men was intensifying, with Dove even recorded on video holding an AR-15-style rifle.
The Shooting and Aftermath
On the early morning of May 25, 2024, Turner drove herself and Dove to a location where they knew Wallace would be. According to investigators, Turner exchanged texts with Wallace, and at 4:17 a.m., Wallace called her. It’s unclear if the call was answered, but police believe that Wallace was shot between 4:18 a.m. and 4:20 a.m.…