Talan Renner's millionaire dad bragged about 'buying' his kids out of trouble before 'Gilbert Goon' jock was charged with murdering 16-year-old Preston Lord outside Halloween party

The millionaire father of an Arizona teen accused of beating Preston Lord to death had a habit of bragging about paying to get his kids out of trouble, his ex-girlfriend told police.

Talan Renner, 17, is one of seven young men accused of beating Lord, 16, to death outside a Halloween party last year in Queen Creek, a suburb of Phoenix. 

He and the other suspects are believed to have ties to the so-called Gilbert Goons - a group of mostly wealthy white kids who have been terrorizing the area for years. 

Talan's former stepmom Lauri Spiker told detectives: 'Travis talks down on police and brags about how he can 'buy' their kids out of trouble,' according to a police report. 

Talan Renner, 17, is one of seven young men accused of beating Lord, 16, to death outside a Halloween party last year in Queen Creek, a suburb of Phoenix

Talan's former stepmom Lauri Spiker told detectives: 'Travis talks down on police and brags about how he can 'buy' their kids out of trouble,' according to a police report 

Spiker described Travis as an 'alcoholic' who 'abuses marijuana.' She said the businessman gets drugs from his son Kyler.

Spiker described Travis as an 'alcoholic' who 'abuses marijuana.' She said the businessman gets drugs from his son Kyler, who is also currently in jail accused of Gilbert Goons assaults. 

'Kyler sells cocaine, marijuana, mushrooms', LSD, ecstacy, Percocet and Xanax,' detectives noted of their interview with Spiker. 

The report added: 'As young as 5th grade, Talan took acid that he obtained from his older brother Kyler...  Laurie suspects Travis provides Talan with drugs but only knows for sure that Travis has provided Talan with marijuana and alcohol. For Talan's 14th birthday, Travis gave Talan marijuana candies.'

Spiker also told police Travis 'once made a $10,000 to American Leadership Academy [Talan's high school] and sponsored sports programs through his business, One Stop Nutrition, to prevent them expelling Talan.' 

On Thursday, the school denied the claims in a statement to DailyMail.com, saying 'there have been a number of unfounded and irrational allegations associating ALA with the tragic death of Preston Lord.'

'We can say unequivocally that ALA has never received or accepted a $10,000 donation, or any donation, from the Renner family or anyone indicted in Preston lord's death, nor from any of their family businesses.'

Travis Renner's other son Kyler has been charged in connection with two gang attacks at a parking garage and a house party in 2022. Spiker claimed he is a drug dealer

Travis Renner has been accused of trying to help his teen son cover up the murder 

The school also defended its choice to allow Talan to play a football game on November 17, just weeks after Preston's murder, saying police had not named any persons of interests or suspects. They said they now regret the choice.

Head football coach and athletic director Randy Ricedorff was fired in January after the scandal broke.

ALA initially told 12News they allowed Talan him to star in the football game because at the time there was no evidence or arrests against any of their students.

But it has since emerged that in the week before the game police served a search warrant for his phone and DNA while he was on the school campus.

This week the Queen Creek police department said they recommended charges against the owners of the home where the fatal Halloween party took place. 

A police report reveals that Talan's parents, who have been accused of trying to help cover up his involvement in the murder, pulled him out of school early on October 31.

Talan's parents told the school he was being called a murderer on social media and he did not return to school for the rest of the week.

On November 2, the dean of students at ALA Gilbert North contacted the Queen Creek police department to share that students were talking about Talan's involvement in the murder.

Talan Renner was awarded the honor of Player of the Game on November 17 - two weeks after Preston was assaulted

But by November 6, Talan was back in school, where he was approached by detectives, who took his cellphone, photographs and DNA. Court documents noted Talan had 'minor discoloration to his right and left hands on the knuckles and a small cut on his left hand near his wrist area.'

Police were informed at the time that Talan's father Travis Renner had obtained a lawyer and was not allowing the teen suspect to speak with detectives.

Aside from police showing up at his school, there was more evidence pointing to Talan as a suspect in Preston's murder, as revealed by the police report into the case.

Talan reportedly boasted to Snapchat friends after throwing 'hammer punches' on Preston.

He allegedly wrote: 'I got in a fight, a big group fight and I accidentally killed a kid. I guess I'm just too strong.'

Police records allege one unnamed boy danced on the dying teen's body shortly after the beating, while others performed 'humping' - simulated rape acts - to further degrade their victim.

Newly-released communications said to be between Talan and friends offer a chilling insight into the aftermath of the deadly beating, AZFamily reported.

In the week before the game police served a search warrant for his phone and DNA while he was on the school campus.

The seven suspects in Preston Lord's murder from top left to bottom right: Jacob Meisner, Talan Renner, Taylor Sherman, Treston Billey, Talyn Vigil, Dominic Turner, William Owe Hines

Talan allegedly texted fellow suspect Taylor Sherman to say: 'I might have hospitalized that kid. I hit him pretty hard.'

The millionaire gym owners' son is also said to have shown a video of the fatal beating he'd recorded on his phone to friends while declaring: 'Oh, I put this kid on life support.'

More messages were sent two days after the attack. 'Bro, that kid died,' one said. 'Tresty or Talan might be getting charged with murder,' said another - referencing Treston Billey, who had allegedly stomped on Preston's head.

All seven suspects have pleaded not guilty, but not before Talan Renner's parents allegedly tried to plot an escape from justice for their son.

Talan's father Travis Renner allegedly tried to hide evidence from the night of the beating and shift blame to another boy with a similar name.

Ashley Reynolds, who worked for Talan's father Travis Renner, has claimed she was an unwilling participant in a coverup that allegedly began as soon as Preston was critically injured.

The former employee at Relentless Media Agency told Arizona Republic that her bosses Renner and Adam Kifer, CEO of Relentless Media Agency, openly discussed their plans to hide evidence and shift blame on another boy with a 'similar name.'

Travis Renner and his business partner reportedly plotted to bring Talan to a cabin until the injuries he sustained while handing out the beating healed. Detectives recorded that Renner's family had 'financial means to aid in fleeing to Mexico' and he was taken out of the Phoenix area after the attack on Preston.

On March 7, Talan Renner's parents Becky and Travis Renner were escorted through a back exit of the Durango Juvenile Court in Phoenix as they attended their son's first appearance in court

Police had to apologize earlier this month after Talan's parents Becky and Travis Renner received special valet parking services from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office cops.

A deputy was seen pulling the millionaire gym owners' white Tesla Model X into a private car park so they could avoid running a gauntlet of journalists.

Authorities took months to name the suspects, with enraged locals who demanded justice and claimed the young boys' powerful families were preventing justice from being served.

Renner's other son Kyler is said to be a violent bully too. He has been charged in connection with two separate gang attacks at a parking garage and a house party in 2022.

Travis Renner was also arrested in January on suspicion of drug possession and paraphernalia charges while his son Kyler was taken into custody over the gang violence claims.

He has not been charged with the alleged cover up attempt.