PHOENIX (AZ Family) — The Maricopa County Prosecutor’s Office says prosecutors reviewed and declined to file charges against the owners who hosted a Halloween party a year ago that East Valley teen Preston Lord attended before he was brutally brutalized. beaten after the party broke up.

Police had filed a referral of charges against the homeowners for “criminal nuisance,” a low-level misdemeanor, and contributing to the delinquency of minors, a class 1 misdemeanor. However, prosecution was declined, alleging that “there is no reasonable probability of conviction.”

In a disposition letter obtained by the Arizona family, prosecutors detailed that there was no evidence to suggest the parents gave alcohol to minors or “encouraged” minors to drink or engage in criminal activity. Additionally, authorities say the parents broke up the party after an argument, unrelated to the attack on Preston Lord that occurred a short time later outside the property.

“While parents’ failure to carefully manage their assets and act before the 40- to 45-minute lapse is not ideal, these lapses do not rise to the level of crimes under the law,” the letter said.

Regarding the criminal nuisance charge, prosecutors said there was no evidence to suggest the disturbance was caused by the intentional actions of the parents, but rather by the intentional actions of others.

More than 100 people gathered on Monday to commemorate one year since the brutal attack on Lord. He died two days later at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Seven suspects have been charged over his death, five of whom have been released on bail. His trial is provisionally scheduled for July 21, 2025.

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