Preston Lord was a 16-year-old high school student living in Queen Creek, Arizona. On October 28, 2023, he was attacked while in a remote area of the town. Two days later, on October 30, 2023, he was pronounced dead, and a medical examiner subsequently ruled that his death was a homicide.
The Queen Creek Police Department opened an investigation into Lord's killing. Over the course of several weeks, seven suspects ranging in age from 15 to 18 were identified, arrested, and charged with first-degree murder in connection with his death. According to investigators, the group had allegedly planned to rob Lord, and the killing was characterized as premeditated.
One of the eventual suspects, a 17-year-old, was initially identified publicly as a person of interest in the case before later being named a suspect. He went on to participate in a high school football game after being named a suspect, which led to public accusations of a potential cover-up by his family.
In March 2024, a grand jury formally indicted seven individuals — the same suspects who had been arrested and charged in the weeks following Lord's death — on charges of first-degree murder in connection with his death. Those indicted were identified as Talan Renner, Talyn Vigil, Treston Billey, Dominic Turner, Taylor Sherman, Jacob Meisner, and William Owen Hines.
The seven defendants appeared in court in May 2024, when a target trial date was set. The case drew significant media attention, and prosecutors publicly indicated they intended to seek the harshest punishments available against those charged.
William Owen Hines, one of the seven defendants indicted in March 2024, was later sentenced to 12 years in prison in the death of Preston Lord. In a separate case, Hines also pleaded guilty to vehicular aggravated assault and received an additional five-year sentence, with credit for 456 days already served; the two sentences were ordered to run consecutively.
Preston Lord was attacked in a remote area of Queen Creek, Arizona.
2023-10-30
Lord was pronounced dead; a medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.
2024-03
A grand jury indicted seven individuals — Talan Renner, Talyn Vigil, Treston Billey, Dominic Turner, Taylor Sherman, Jacob Meisner, and William Owen Hines — on first-degree murder charges in Lord's death.
2024-05
The seven defendants appeared in court as a target trial date was set.
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Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
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Annie Elise / 1 min
The Brutal Attack of Preston Lord
People
Dominic Turner
CHARGED
One of seven suspects, ages 15 to 18, arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Lord's death; indicted by a grand jury in March 2024.
Preston Lord
VICTIM
16-year-old victim; attacked in a remote area of Queen Creek, Arizona on October 28, 2023, and pronounced dead on October 30, 2023. A medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.
Treston Billey
CHARGED
One of seven suspects, ages 15 to 18, arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Lord's death; indicted by a grand jury in March 2024.
Taylor Sherman
CHARGED
One of seven suspects, ages 15 to 18, arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Lord's death; indicted by a grand jury in March 2024.
Jacob Meisner
CHARGED
One of seven suspects, ages 15 to 18, arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Lord's death; indicted by a grand jury in March 2024.
William Owen Hines
CONVICTED
One of seven suspects, ages 15 to 18, arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Lord's death; indicted by a grand jury in March 2024. Later sentenced to 12 years in prison in the death of Preston Lord, plus a consecutive five-year sentence (with credit for 456 days served) after pleading guilty to vehicular aggravated assault in a separate case.
Talyn Vigil
CHARGED
One of seven suspects, ages 15 to 18, arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Lord's death; indicted by a grand jury in March 2024.
Talan Renner
CHARGED
One of seven suspects, ages 15 to 18, arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Lord's death; indicted by a grand jury in March 2024.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
A 16-year-old was killed in Queen Creek, Arizona in October 2023, and seven teenagers were later charged with first-degree murder in his death.
Where did the killing happen?
Queen Creek, Arizona.
Who was convicted?
William Owen Hines (One of seven suspects, ages 15 to 18, arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Lord's death; indicted by a grand jury in March 2024. Later sentenced to 12 years in prison in the death of Preston Lord, plus a consecutive five-year sentence (with credit for 456 days served) after pleading guilty to vehicular aggravated assault in a separate case.).
