On Wednesday, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell in a joint press conference with Queen Creek police officials announced indictments in connection to the death of 16-year-old Preston Lord.
Calling it a “massive step forward” in the quest for justice for the Lord family, Mitchell announced the indictments of:
- William Owen Hines* (DOB 11/05)
- Charges: one count first-degree murder and in the alternative second-degree murder, both Class One felonies; one count kidnapping, a Class Two felony
- Talan Renner* (DOB 10/06)
- Charges: one count first-degree murder and in the alternative second-degree murder, both Class One felonies; one count kidnapping, a Class Two felony
- Dominic Turner* (DOB 10/03)
- Charges: one count aggravated robbery, a Class Three felony; one count first-degree murder and in the alternative second-degree murder, both Class One felonies; one count kidnapping, a Class Two felony
- Talyn Vigil* (DOB 06/06)
- Charges: one count first-degree murder and in the alternative second-degree murder, both Class One felonies; one count kidnapping, a Class Two felony
The Queen Creek Police Department has arrested 3 of the defendants; one, William Owen Hines, is already in custody.
“We must always remember that at the center of this case is a teenaged boy who died far before his time,” said Mitchell. “His parents are in agony and there is little anyone can do to change that. That said, today we have taken a massive step forward in the quest for justice for Preston.”
Preston Lord is the 16-year-old who was beaten following a party in Queen Creek on October 28, 2023. He died two days later. Since the cases related to Lord’s death were submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) in late December 2023, prosecutors – including those at the most senior level of the office – have undertaken a detailed review of 600 videos and a 2,000-page police report among other evidence to develop the case against those indicted today.
An investigative grand jury began hearing this case on February 7, 2024. An important piece of evidence for their consideration was the Medical Examiner’s report which was received on February 14, 2024.
“A grand jury was convened and heard evidence over the course of five weeks,” explained Mitchell. “My office has put in hundreds of hours, as have the members of several East Valley police departments. I offer my deep thanks to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s office for the difficult and important work they have done. But let me emphasize: this investigation is not over. There is more information to review and the potential for additional charges exists.”
First degree?