QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. — Outside of Jeanna Pignatiello’s home is a candle below a sign with Preston Lord’s face.
The 16-year-old died after he was badly beaten following a Halloween party at another home in Pignatiello’s neighborhood.
“I wanted every person that drove in here to remember him, and what happened. And if that prompted one person who is hesitant to share something, seeing his face every time they came into the subdivision, maybe that would encourage something,” Pignatiello said.
The sign asks to “Light up the night” for Lord and justice for his family.
“Preston’s family has been heavy on all of our minds for so long,” Pignatiello said.
It’s just one piece of the East Valley community calling for action in the case, including walks in Lord’s name.
Thursday, Queen Creek Police Department announced they submitted charges against seven people in Lord’s case. Those are now under review by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
“And for the first time in a while, I think we felt some hope that justice would be served,” Pignatiello said.
Queen Creek Police Department has not released the seven peoples ages, names or charges submitted.
Attorney Hector Diaz says the charges that people could face in Lord’s case could be wide-ranging.
“From potential first degree murder to maybe even manslaughter or negligent homicide or something in between,” Diaz said. “And that is going to depend on the evidence. You also have the potential of aggravated assault allegations, you also may have the potential of tampering with physical evidence.”
Diaz said those who are at the center of the case likely do know charges are being submitted, noting any attorneys the potential suspects have retained are likely working to gather evidence, too.
“This is a situation where if these individuals were put on notice, let’s say a month or two months ago, and if they have counsel, there no doubt would have been a parallel investigation in terms of: what is the level of culpability of my client? Is he actually a target? Do they have the wrong person? Do they have the wrong level of information?,” Diaz said.
Diaz said that the county attorney's office will be looking closely at the case that Queen Creek submitted.
RELATED: Here is what has happened in the Preston Lord homicide investigation in the last two months
“What the county attorney is going to want here is a clear indication that they have probable cause to charge these offenses,” Diaz said. “If it is a Grand Jury presentation, to make that presentation, and to obtain an indictment, and then subsequently to obtain convictions for the offenses that they charged.”
As for how long it could take to learn who those seven people are that have had charges submitted against them, Diaz believes it will take some time.
“I think it’s going to be guided by the volume of information that the county was presented. I expect that the county is going to -- given the seriousness of this high profile nature of this -- they’re going to want to make sure that they have everything that they need to make that presentation of the Grand Jury. Or if it’s going to be a direct complaint, they want to have it, they want to get it right.”
Gilbert police are also working cases related to attacks on teens in the East Valley. A spokesperson told 12News on Friday there are no updates in those cases either.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.