CHANDLER, AZ — The signs outside the Lord house are subtle, but become more obvious if you know where to look — a #JusticeforPrestonLord bumper sticker fitted onto each car in the driveway. Small mementos and a commemorative banner line the rocks leading to the front door. And when the neighborhood goes dark at night, the home’s outdoor light fixture glows orange, Preston’s favorite color.
“Preston was always a very sweet, very kind little boy and young man,” said Nick Lord, Preston’s dad. “He was always very even-tempered about everything, like no matter what, he was always just very happy with everything.”
The name Preston Lord, and the events leading up to his death, have grabbed the attention of the East Valley, and at times, the nation, since October of last year.
FULL COVERAGE: East Valley teen violence
On October 28, 2023, the 16-year-old attended a Halloween party in a Queen Creek neighborhood. Upon leaving the party, Preston was attacked and beaten by a group of teens. Two days later, he was pronounced dead.
“I just remember standing there and like, thinking, like, ‘This has got to be a bad dream,’” Nick said. “I spent two nights at the hospital, sleeping on the floor, and it was one of the most, I'd say easily, the most challenging things that I've ever had to go through.”
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office officially eventually ruled Preston’s death a homicide, citing multiple blunt force injuries as the cause.
When news of Preston’s death began circulating, Melissa wanted to find a way to commemorate her son, while calling attention to the need for justice.
The family created an orange bracelet with the hashtag “#JusticeforPrestonLord,” a rallying cry that has since turned into a movement.
“This was not okay, whether it happened to anybody's child, but it wasn't okay with me,” Melissa said. “His life stood for more, and it was I felt it was my responsibility to do something to keep his spirit alive and to help the investigation.”
The Lord family has since been surrounded by a sea of orange at community walks, events, and now in court.
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“I went around to a lot of the high schools and gave out the bracelets and some lanyards for the kids because the event was very traumatizing for them,” Melissa said. “It [the bracelet] was kind of a sign of unity among the kids, and it snowballed into what Justice for Preston Lord is today.”
The outpouring of community support is not lost on the family.
“It's very comforting. They're walking the walk with us,” Melissa said. “It did not happen to them personally, but definitely emotionally. They're connected to Preston and what his life stood for, and what it means to be taken away.”
Remembering Preston and reminding people what the late teen stood for is a continuing mission for the Lord family. An emerging motto among family, friends, and supporters is asking people to “live like Preston.”
“Well, every life, no matter how brief, makes an impact on the world, and Preston made that impact in this community,” Melissa said.
To live like Preston, Melissa said, is to “improve not only yourself but the lives of others.”
“It's stepping forward and doing what you can to help somebody along the way,” Melissa said. “By lifting others, we lift ourselves, and that's kind of how Preston lived.”
To Nick, living like Preston means, “not complaining, being grateful and being happy with what you have.”
“He was genuine, he was kind, he was loving, and he wanted a future for himself, and he worked hard for it," Melissa said. "And he also wanted a good future for his friends and family and those that were in his life."
A note from Preston Lord’s mom, Autumn Curiel, read by Melissa Ciconte. To listen to the note, watch below:
Recently, the City of Chandler declared September 23rd, Preston’s birthday, “Preston Lord Day.” On what would have been the teen’s 17th birthday, Preston’s family and the community will gather to celebrate his life.
“I'm hoping that you know, we can come together with unity and celebration for Preston,” Nick said. “It's a day that's going to be really tough for me, so I'm celebrating the day regardless. I'm hoping that some people make time and come out and celebrate with us.”
While the Lords acknowledged the legal process surrounding Preston’s death will be lengthy, they want people to remember their son, not as “the victim,” Nick said, but for people to remember his name and his legacy. A legacy that included kindness, a love for sports (particularly the Seattle Seahawks and Boston Celtics), a knack for academia, and above all, to “be a good person,” Nick said.
“To know him was to love him, and he will be greatly missed,” Melissa said. “He is greatly missed.”
