Colton John Wright, a 24-year-old White man from Covington, Indiana, was remembered by loved ones for his infectious smile and a giving heart that was apparent from childhood. Friends and family said Colton, who was passionate about vehicles, would immediately light up any room he entered. His life was cut short in what his family described as a senseless and tragic death on December 9, 2021, in Sarasota, Florida.
On that day, a housekeeping supervisor at the Hyatt Place hotel on
University Parkway discovered Colton in room 319, lying in a pool of blood. An autopsy later revealed he had died from a single gunshot wound to his face. The medical examiner testified that the shot severed his spinal cord, causing instant paralysis.
The investigation quickly focused on Brennan Wakey, Colton's ex-partner. Hotel surveillance footage captured Wakey leaving the hotel through a side exit at approximately 3 a.m., pulling a black suitcase and carrying a gun tucked into the back of his waistband. Evidence recovered from Colton’s phone included a series of deleted thumbnail photos taken just minutes before Wakey left, showing him in the hotel room holding a gun. Investigators tracked Wakey to his father’s home in Port Charlotte, where they found Colton’s cellphone and laptop. They also discovered a red shirt and dark blue jeans, matching the clothes Wakey wore in the surveillance video, soaking alone in a washing machine. The gun used in the shooting was never recovered.
Wakey was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. He was released on bond in March 2022. For years, his defense attorneys argued that he acted in self-defense. They claimed that Colton had been smoking meth and was highly agitated, pacing the room while swinging a glass bottle of margarita mix. The defense contended that Wakey fired because he believed Colton was about to kill him.
The case went to trial, and in January 2026, after deliberating for nearly seven hours, a jury found Brennan Wakey guilty of manslaughter with a firearm, a lesser offense than the original murder charge. He was also found guilty of tampering with evidence. Colton's mother expressed the family's relief after what she called "four excruciating years" waiting for a verdict.
Wakey was taken into custody immediately following the verdict. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison for the manslaughter conviction. His defense attorneys stated they planned to appeal the decision. As of February 2026, Brennan Wakey was in jail awaiting his sentencing, scheduled for March 17.
