Police in Arizona have admitted they made a mistake in providing valet parking to the millionaire parents of a teenage boy charged with murder while they go to juvenile court.
Talan Renner, 17, is being charged as an adult in the murder of Preston Lord, 16, but is currently being held in juvenile detention.
Preston was found on a Queen Creek road outside of Phoenix after being attacked at a Halloween party on October 28 and suffering critical injuries. He died two days later of a brain injury after being taken to hospital, with a local gang of rich thugs calling themselves the “Gilbert Goons” linked to his murder.
On March 7, Talan’s parents Becky and Travis Renner were escorted through a back exit from Durango Juvenile Court in Phoenix as they attended their son’s first court appearance.
The parents had received special valet parking services from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office – who drove the couple’s Tesla directly to the back exit so the couple could easily pick them up. That meant the couple – who own a chain of Orange Theory gyms – didn’t have to meet reporters.
Arizona police have admitted they made a mistake when they provided valet parking to the parents of a teenage boy charged with murder while they go to juvenile court
On March 7, Talan Renner’s parents Becky and Travis Renner were escorted through a back exit from Durango Juvenile Court in Phoenix as they attended their son’s first court appearance
As the pair got to their white Model X Tesla, Becky grabbed her Louis Vuitton bag and Travis made a bold choice to wear bright orange trousers
The parents had received valet parking from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office – who drove the couple’s Tesla directly to the back exit so the couple could easily pick it up.
As the pair got to their white Model X Tesla, Becky grabbed her Louis Vuitton bag and Travis made a bold choice to wear bright orange trousers.
Users on X called the fashion move a ‘dirty pick’ and said Travis was ‘mocking the pain of the Lord family’.
‘Notice Renner’s orange pants. What a pathetic husband and father,” said another user.
Queen Creek Police were told Talan was taken out of the East Valley region of Arizona after the attack that killed the 16-year-old, according to Fox 10.
His father is accused of taking him away to a cabin so that an injury allegedly sustained during Lord’s fatal beating could heal.
Investigators were also told Talan’s family had the ‘financial means’ to help him flee to Mexico. A report claimed that Talan had wanted to kill Lord so that he could be initiated into the Goons gang.
MSCO has since apologized for valet parking and said the deputies involved have been ‘reassigned from the Juvenile Court Center’ while they continue to investigate the incident.
“After a thorough review, we determined that MCSO personnel conducted an unauthorized family escort on March 7, 2024, using a route known from previous high-profile or security-sensitive escorts,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“Despite their intent to prevent potential conflict or disruption in the courthouse, the two deputies failed to seek supervisory guidance or coordinate with court personnel after receiving the request for an escort from the family’s legal representative.”
The MSCO added, “In this highly publicized matter, we appreciate your patience as we work to evaluate the deputies’ actions and ensure that all MCSO personnel adhere to policies and procedures in the future.”
Talan’s wealthy parents have so far been able to keep him out of adult detention, meaning no mugshot has been released.
They faced humiliation after an armored police vehicle with a blaring loudspeaker arrived to try to arrest their alleged killer son at their gated mansion earlier this month, only for police to discover that no one was home.
Judge Joseph C. Welty released a statement addressing the apparent “preferential treatment” Talan and his parents are receiving — saying the deputies were not acting on Superior Court direction.
“The action violated the court’s security protocol and gave the appearance of preferential treatment,” Welty said.
He added that the Court “has no tolerance for preferential treatment or the perception of preferential treatment for anyone.”
Last week p6 teenagers and a 20-year-old were charged with the brutal murder of Preston Lord.
Preston Lord, 16, was left for dead on a Queen Creek road outside Phoenix after being attacked at the party on October 28 and suffering critical injuries
Taylor Sherman (left) Dominic Turner (center), William Owen Hines top (right) have been charged with murder and kidnapping
Treston Billey (left) and Talyn Vigil (right) have also been charged with Preston’s murder. The other two suspects have not been photographed
On Wednesday, Maricopa County prosecutors announced the charges against four suspects — William Owen Hines, 18, Talan Renner, 17, Talyn Vigil, 17, and Dominic Turner, 20.
Taylor Sherman, 19, Jacob Meisner, 17, and Treston Billey, 17, were charged the following day. They are charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping as adults.
A GoFundMe for Preston’s family says the teenager was assaulted at the party and some children had tried to step in to perform CPR after his heart stopped until paramedics arrived.
“They were able to restart Preston’s heart and he was taken to Chandler Regional Hospital. He was then transferred to Phoenix Children’s in extremely critical condition with a severe brain injury,” Preston’s aunt Melissa wrote.
Police said the theft of a $10 gold necklace Preston was wearing may have been the motive for the attack.
Preston’s murder highlighted a growing case of gang violence by teenagers in Phoenix and other cities
After the fatal beating against Lord was detailed by the Arizona Republic last December, authorities reopened several cases believed to have been carried out by a larger group of assailants
Five arrests were made after a street gang dubbed the ‘Gilbert Goons’ plagued a sleepy Arizona town by attacking teenagers and robbing stores
Detectives said the attackers grabbed his chain before Preston and his friends tried to get it back and a confrontation broke out. Preston and his friends then fled the scene, but the attackers chased him before beating him and leaving him in the street.
Preston’s murder highlighted a growing case of gang violence by teenagers in the Phoenix area and other cities in Maricopa County.
The quiet communities of the southeast Valley have been rocked by a series of teenage violence since last year, resulting in multiple injuries and three deaths.
In January, police in Arizona said they arrested members of a street gang called the ‘Gilbert Goons’ who attacked teenagers and robbed stores.
Activists have previously said the same gang was involved in Preston’s death.