Text Messages Expose Callousness of Suspects in Queen Creek Teen's Alleged Murder, Seven Charged

Seven individuals linked to the alleged murder of a 16-year-old Preston Lord during a Halloween party in Queen Creek have found their text messages subject to scrutiny, as unveiled in the recently released 1,100-page police report. According to 12 News, exchanges following the October 28 assault indicate a suspect acknowledging, "Got in a fight...killed a kid..guess I don't know my own strength," purportedly indicating Talan Renner's involvement.

The authorities' meticulous review of communication between those accused reveals a disturbing indifference, a snapshot into the suspects' reactions after the violence unfolded, including admissions and overt calls for destruction of evidence, "delete everything...vids, text, pics in costumes," one message advised, a line indicated as belonging to Jacob Meisner, although the identity for some of the authors has been redacted, the report reveals disturbing insights into the aftermath of Lord's death; these seven suspects, ranging in age from 17 to 20, now face first-degree murder and kidnapping charges.

In coverage by 12 News, another harrowing detail emerges from a police report: on the night of the assault, a suspect, Renner, allegedly confessed to a witness, "I might have hospitalized that kid, I hit him pretty hard." Witnesses also recalled disturbing statements such as one from suspect Treston Billey, who purportedly said, "I was the last person to kick him," showcasing a grim picture of the suspects' attitudes immediately following the assault on Lord.

Amidst the investigation, the term "Gilbert Goons" surfaces, a name allegedly linked to the suspects and a group described as instilling fear in the community, with residents expressing concerns over their safety. "She advised the Gilbert Goons go around and look at attacking people in different places," a police report detailed a community member's account regarding the group's notoriety in the wake of the attack, which was first signaled to emergency services by a 911 call detailing the urgent need for assistance as Lord remained unconscious.