Dylan Simmons sentenced for killing Forest Lake teen

In a court hearing on Thursday, Devon Bailey Vath spoke about his sister, Darisha, who was killed in a tragic incident involving 21-year-old Dylan Simmons. He recounted the horrifying moment he found her after she was struck by Simmons' car and ran over multiple times. The incident occurred in July 2023, following a fight between two groups of teenagers. Simmons was sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison after being found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, criminal vehicular homicide, and assault. The sentence, the maximum allowed, followed a trial where jurors did not convict him of intentional murder. During the incident, which took place in a parking lot, Simmons drove his car at Darisha and her brother after a gathering escalated into violence. Prosecutors argued that Simmons had opportunities to leave the situation but instead chose to drive toward Vath and others. Eyewitnesses reported that he circled the lot before striking Darisha, who was walking. She suffered severe injuries and died at the scene, while Simmons drove off. He later claimed he thought he had hit a "speed bump." During the sentencing, the judge, Siv Mjanger, noted that Simmons' actions, while cruel, did not meet the legal threshold for particularly cruel behavior. She also dismissed claims that Vath was an aggressor, emphasizing that Simmons had challenged her brother to fight. Many family members and friends attended the hearing, with some calling for leniency for Simmons. He expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging the severity of the situation. Vath’s sister, however, made it clear that she could never forgive him, highlighting the loss of a promising young life.