PHOENIX — Maricopa County's review of charges stemming from the Preston Lord murder is expected to take some time because of the amount of material that needs to be reviewed, attorney Rachel Mitchell said Friday.
The Queen Creek Police Department filed MCAO charges against seven suspects on Dec. 28, nearly two months after 16-year-old Lord died after being assaulted outside a Halloween party.
Mitchell said. The Mike Broomhead Show on KTAR News 92.3 FM The police report on Lord's case is about 1,800 pages long. Mitchell said prosecutors also need to review about 2,000 pieces of evidence, including 600 videos.
“We have one chance to do well, and we want to be in the best position possible to handle this,” Mitchell said.
How has the MCAO communicated with police regarding the Preston Road incident?
MCAO has been in contact with police in Queen Creek and Gilbert since the beginning of the investigation, Mitchell added.
Gilbert is involved in the investigation due to suspected links between Lord's death and the Gilbert Goons, a group of wealthy teens linked to a series of violent assaults in the East Valley. are doing.
Both East Valley police departments have come under public criticism for the length of the investigation into Lord's death and their response to teen gangs.
The names of the suspects have not been released, but authorities said they are a mix of adults and minors.
“When we heard that this behavior extended to Gilbert, we reached out to them as well,” Mitchell said. “So we want to make sure we know all the facts so we can properly handle these cases and stop this violence.”
What happened to Preston Road?
Lord, a student at Combs High School, was assaulted near Sossaman and Chandler Heights roads after a Halloween party on Oct. 28, and died two days later from his injuries.
A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest in Lord's death.
Queen Creek has installed portals at www.fbi.gov/Preston Road If you can submit videos, photos, or other media as potential evidence.
You can also contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
