Preston Lord: 4 indicted teen murder MCAO

UPDATE: Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell indicted two more people in the Preston Lord case on Mar. 7, 2024.

UPDATE: As of March 7, 2024, two more individuals have been indicted in connection with the tragic case of Preston Lord, according to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. For the most up-to-date information on this case, please refer to the latest updates. The initial story is outlined below.

In a shocking development, four individuals have been indicted by a grand jury in relation to the murder of Preston Lord, as announced by Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell on March 6. Preston was brutally assaulted during a Halloween party on October 28 and tragically passed away at the hospital on October 30. The medical examiner officially ruled his death as a homicide on February 15.

During a press conference held in collaboration with the Queen Creek Police Department, Mitchell identified the four suspects involved in Preston's death as William Hines, Talan Renner, Dominic Turner, and Talyn Vigil. All four individuals are facing charges of murder and kidnapping, with Turner also facing a robbery charge. They are currently in police custody.

In a recent court appearance, 19-year-old Taylor Sherman was also charged in connection to Lord's murder, facing charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping. Hines, Turner, and Sherman are being held on a $1 million bond, while Renner and Vigil have yet to appear in court for their initial hearings.

In a statement released by the Lord family, they expressed their gratitude to the community members who came forward with valuable information leading to the arrests. The family emphasized the importance of accountability and justice for their son Preston, acknowledging the collective efforts of law enforcement and community cooperation that resulted in the arrests.

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office revealed that since late December 2023, prosecutors have been meticulously reviewing evidence, including 600 videos and a 2,000-page police report, to build a strong case against the indicted individuals. An investigative grand jury was convened on February 7, considering crucial evidence such as the medical examiner's report from February 14.

Rachel Mitchell highlighted the ongoing nature of the investigation, stating that there is still more information to review and the possibility of additional charges. She commended the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's office for their crucial contributions to the case.

Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward and submit tips through the provided link. Following the announcement by the Queen Creek Police Department and Maricopa County Attorney's Office, the Gilbert Police Department also held a press conference, shedding light on the suspects' criminal histories.

Chief Michael Soelberg of the Gilbert PD emphasized the importance of ongoing investigations into teen violence cases in the far East Valley community. In addition to the indictments related to Preston's death, arrests have been made in other unrelated cases of teen violence, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and action against such heinous crimes.