Maricopa County, Arizona – The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday that none of the seven individuals accused in the murder of Preston Lord will face the death penalty. While three of the defendants were eligible for capital punishment, four were under 18 at the time of the homicide and therefore exempt from such sentencing.
Lord tragically passed away after being assaulted at a Halloween party in Queen Creek, with the medical examiner ruling his death a homicide. Among the seven suspects arrested in connection to the case are Talan Renner, Talyn Vigil, William Owen Hines, Dominic Turner, Taylor Sherman, Billey, and Jacob Meisner, all of whom pleaded not guilty.
Following Lord’s death, text messages exchanged by the suspects provided crucial evidence for the investigation. The Queen Creek Police Department released a 1,100-page police report in March, shedding light on the details of the case, including interviews, video reviews, and cell phone message analysis conducted by investigators.
One particularly disturbing message allegedly showed a suspect confessing to their involvement in the assault, stating, “Got in a fight… killed a kid.. guess I don’t know my own strength,” shortly after the incident. Prosecutors anticipate the trial for the case to take place in 2025.