In October of last year, a 16-year-old boy named Preston Lord was beaten to death at a Halloween party in Arizona. Talan Renner, a 17-year-old high school football player, was one of seven accused attackers held on $1 million bond. Renner and the other suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following Lord’s death, Renner was reportedly hidden away by his family at a cabin in Show Low, three hours away from their home. The family’s actions were revealed in a 1,100-page report reviewed by AZFamily, with Renner’s father allegedly moving him to the cabin to let his “hands heal” before returning to their hometown of Gilbert.
According to Renner’s father’s ex-girlfriend, Renner was described as a “fighter” and an “angry kid.” She claimed to have seen a photo posted by Renner on Snapchat from the cabin, showing him with a swollen jaw. The ex-girlfriend also stated that Renner’s lack of remorse was evident in video surveillance footage where he bragged about getting away with Lord’s murder and how the victim’s funeral had to be closed-casket due to the severity of the beating. It was alleged that the Renner family attorney had advised them to keep him away until his “hands healed.”
Another individual, Ashley Reynolds, who was a former employee at Relentless Media Agency owned by Renner’s father, revealed that Renner’s father and CEO discussed shifting blame onto another boy involved in the assault. Reynolds claimed that she was pressured to help with the situation and provide updates on the case. She expressed regret for not stepping forward sooner and suggested that the blame-shifting tactic was designed to protect Renner and his family. Reynolds was subsequently fired after refusing to assist with their scheme.
The attack on Lord involved as many as 15 suspects wearing ski masks who allegedly beat him during a Halloween party in Queen Creek. One of the suspects, Dominic Turner, also known as “D Money,” instigated the confrontation by stealing a chain from a friend of Lord’s. Renner admitted to a friend online that he had killed Lord during the fight. Additional suspects, like Talyn Vigil, also confessed to participating in the attack. Witnesses described how Lord was repeatedly beaten and kicked while lying on the ground until he died from his injuries at a hospital two days later.
Witness accounts provided harrowing details of the attack, with Renner hammer pounding Lord in the face multiple times before others joined in kicking and dancing on him as he lay dying. One witness described the group of kids recording and mocking Lord as he lay on the ground. Renner allegedly showed no remorse for his actions after Lord’s death, boasting about his strength and his role in the fatal beating. Reynolds, the former employee, expressed regret for not coming forward sooner and recounted the pressure she faced from Renner’s father and CEO to protect their son.
The brutal attack on Preston Lord at the Halloween party shed light on the disturbing behavior of the teenagers involved. The alleged actions of Renner, his family, and the other suspects in the case highlighted a lack of empathy and remorse for their actions. As the legal process unfolds, the community continues to grapple with the tragic loss of a young life and the complexities of addressing violence among youth. The details of the case revealed in the police reports serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked aggression and the importance of accountability in such situations.
