Crime

Boyfriend of 15-year-old girl found shot to death in Lowell arrested on murder charges

The victim, Ahliana Dickey, told multiple people before her death that her 21-year-old boyfriend had been abusive to her.

Ahliana Martina Dickey GoFundMe

By Emily Spatz

3 minutes to read

Officials have arrested the boyfriend of a 15-year-old girl who was found shot to death in her Lowell home Friday evening.

Officials identified the victim as Ahliana Dickey. Trevor Bady, 21, of Tewksbury, has been charged with Dickey’s murder, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced Monday. 

Bady was arrested inside a Peabody residence Monday afternoon, officials said. He is charged with multiple crimes including murder, armed home invasion, and unlawful possession of a firearm. 

Dickey’s family members became concerned about her well-being when she didn’t show up to her eighth grade graduation on Friday, Ryan said at a press conference Monday. 

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At about 6:10 p.m. that day, Dickey’s grandmother found her “certainly hurt and possibly dead” in her Lawrence Street home, Ryan said. When police arrived, they found Dickey on the floor in a first-floor bedroom with gunshot wounds. 

Just after midnight that morning, Lowell police had received a call from someone reporting that a man and woman, later identified to be Dickey and Bady, were fighting outside across the street. 

“The caller reported hearing a female screaming ‘Get off me, get away from me, I don’t want to be with you anymore,’” Ryan’s office said in a statement, adding that the caller also reported hearing gunshots. 

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Police responded to the scene but did not find anyone there. 

Later, video footage was recovered that showed Dickey yelling for help shortly before midnight. Bady was allegedly seen leaving Dickey’s Lawrence Street residence after midnight. 

On Saturday, police found out that Bady had allegedly taken an Uber to and from Dickey’s house before and after the murder. The driver of the Uber reported that he had had a “suspicious passenger” and was “concerned” about Bady’s behavior, Ryan said. 

After an initial investigation, authorities learned that Dickey had been in an allegedly abusive relationship with Bady. She had confided in a number of people about the abuse, which allegedly included physical violence and threats, Ryan said.

Bady is scheduled to be arraigned in Lowell District Court Tuesday morning, officials said. 

GoFundMe set up for Dickey’s family

In a GoFundMe started by Dickey’s family, they described the teen as “a beautiful young lady who has the most beautiful soul.”

“I can’t believe we have to stomach this and bring our minds to write something like this. Our family is hurting during this horrible tragedy,” the GoFundMe, started by Scott Dickey, reads.

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The fundraiser had raised over $7,000 out of a $20,000 goal as of Monday afternoon.

“Ahliana deserves JUSTICE!!” the fundraiser reads. “We thank you in advance, prayers for our family please for strength!! And that this monster this coward [sic] is found immediately.”

At Monday’s press conference, Ryan emphasized that Dickey had only turned 15 in April and was slated to graduate eighth grade the day she was found dead.

Ryan also spoke about the “prevalence and use” of guns in the community

“This is at least the fifth individual to die by firearm in Middlesex County [this year], and that does not include individuals that have been shot and have survived that,” Ryan said. “This time, it’s a 15 year old girl.”

Ryan also asked the public to respect the privacy of Dickey’s family. 

“Obviously, given the tragedy of what has happened, Ahliana’s family is still grieving, they have some very difficult days ahead of them, and has asked that their privacy be respected,” she said. 

Bady has been arrested previously, local outlets report

Court records obtained by The Boston Globe show that Bady has been arrested multiple times in recent years. 

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He was arrested in late 2021 for his alleged involvement in an incident where teenagers beat, kicked, and robbed another teenager, the Globe reported. He was arrested again in early 2022 when he allegedly fired a shot in the direction of a man, according to the Globe.  

Both cases were dismissed for “lack of prosecution,” the Globe reported. 

Lowell Police Superintendent Greg Hudon thanked the multiple agencies involved in identifying and apprehending Bady at Monday’s press conference. Several nearby police departments assisted police in the investigation, Hudon said, which involved detectives going door-to-door to collect evidence and security footage. 

“This is an isolated incident. With the arrest of the suspect today, there no longer appears to be any ongoing threat to public safety,” Hudon added. 

An investigation into Dickey’s death is ongoing and being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s office, Lowell police, and State Police.

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