Background: News footage of the street where Seth Wallace was killed (WHSV). Insets (top, left to right): Dustin Dove and Kaylee Turner (Wayneboro Police Department). Inset (bottom): Seth Wallace (GoFundMe).
On the same day her boyfriend received a life sentence for murder, a Virginia woman pleaded guilty to her role in the same crime.
Kaylee Turner, 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder as a principal in the second-degree on Friday afternoon, just hours after her boyfriend, 24-year-old Dustin Dove, received a life sentence for the murder of 22-year-old Seth Wallace. As previously reported by Law&Crime, Dove was convicted of killing Wallace after believing Wallace had acted “inappropriately” with Turner while Dove was incarcerated.
Before the May 2024 shooting, Dove and Wallace had been best friends.
The friendship between Dove and Wallace began in 2022 but deteriorated after Dove was convicted on drug charges in early 2024. Turner informed Dove of Wallace’s alleged behavior towards her, leading to hostile exchanges between the two men.
A digital forensics expert read the exchanges in court, reported WHSV, including messages like “Dog, I’m going to destroy you” and “I’m going to get away with it.” At some point, Dove reportedly recorded videos while wearing a mask and holding the AR-15-style rifle used in the crime.
According to Dove’s defense attorney, Wallace told Turner that Dove was “manipulating” her by saying Dove was cheating on her.
In the early morning hours of May 25, 2024, Turner and Dove exchanged texts indicating their plan to go to a location where they knew Wallace would be. Investigators stated that Turner drove both herself and Dove to Wallace’s location after notifying him she was coming.
At 4:17 a.m., Wallace called Turner, but it is unclear if the call was answered. Investigators report that Wallace was shot between 4:18 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. Later, Turner texted Wallace, “Help, he has me at gunpoint,” in a bid to disguise her role in the shooting.
Wallace died from infections caused by nine gunshot wounds two weeks after he was shot.
Months after Wallace died, Dove is said to have written a rap song and sung it over a jail telephone line, with phrases including, “I don’t duck murders” and “He was my best friend, now he’s dead meat.”
According to courtroom coverage by the Staunton News Leader, Turner apologized at her sentencing, saying, “I’m very sorry. I apologize for my actions in this situation.”
The outlet reported that Judge Paul Dryer was not happy with the plea deal, saying Turner did not seem to show remorse for her actions. Turner was sentenced to an active prison term of 11 years and six months, with 18 years and six months suspended, plus five years probation. If she violates probation, she may be required to be incarcerated for the full 30-year sentence.
