The parents of a 13-year-old girl hit by a suicidal driver in Malibu in 2010 asked California Governor Gavin to halt the release of felons after the parole board found them eligible for release. appeal to Newsom.
Michelle and Ellen Shane shared the story of Sheena Hankanian in 2010 when she went on a crazy 17-mile drive along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), weaving between cars at high speeds and eventually hitting Emily. He lost his daughter Emily when he crashed and died.
Emily, who her parents say was a carefree, fun-loving teenager who enjoyed sports and dancing, was returning from a sleepover at a friend's house and walking to the side of the road to meet her father. Just then, Han Hanian arrived. It ultimately took her life.
Emily Shane passed away in 2010. (Courtesy of Shane's family)
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Hanhanian, now 41, was convicted of second-degree murder in 2012 and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. He said he was upset about losing his job a few days earlier and was contemplating suicide, but his lawyer at the time also claimed: Because Hanhanian has autism, she didn't fully understand what her actions would be that day.
He was granted parole by the Parole Board in June 2023, but that decision was rescinded by Newsom in October 2023.
In October 2024, the board reapproved Mr. Hankanian's parole and release, but Mr. Newsom has not intervened so far, meaning the prisoner is on the verge of becoming a free man. This caused much anger and dissatisfaction among the couple.
“The only decision-maker is Governor Newsom or the team that will be looking at all of this.” [paroles] And I recommend him,” Michelle told FOX News Digital.
The couple maintains that Hanhanian remains a danger to society and has shown no remorse for killing their daughter.
Michelle recalled that fateful day and said Hanhanian, who was driving a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, actually passed her just before hitting Emily.
“I was sitting at a traffic light, waiting to turn, and I saw this guy driving by. He was in a Mitsubishi car, and he was cutting into lanes at 75, 80 miles an hour, and I was stuck in a traffic jam. I was sitting there thinking, “Oh, is this going to end badly?'' I never thought we would be the victims. I wasn't even there,” Michelle said.
When Michelle arrived at the pick-up location to collect Emily, there was no sign of her, and after frantically calling her wife, she soon realized that Emily had been involved in the incident.
“He hit Emily. He threw her 30 feet in the air and she fell,” Ellen said. “In fact, she hit the sign first and then rolled over. His car went up an embankment and overturned, but it wasn't hurt.”
“We learned that this man…left his home in a trailer park…and drove like crazy for over 17 miles. We also learned that he had written a suicide note before leaving. I did.”
Sheena Hankanian was sentenced in 2012 to 15 years to life in prison for the death of Emily Shane. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)
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Ellen heard testimony in court that revealed that one of the most difficult parts of this tragedy was the conversation the fire chief had with Hanhanian shortly after Emily was pronounced dead at the scene in the ambulance. He said it was true.
“He said, and these are his exact words, 'I don't care.' And then he said, 'That deserves to die,'” quotes the fire chief. Then Ellen spoke.
Witnesses who arrived at the scene asked Hanhanian to get out before the car exploded, but Hanhanian replied, “Hehehe, you. Leave me alone. Hehehe, please stop. I want to die. Just leave. “Please,” he reportedly responded. I’m the only one,” court documents state. Witnesses said they found Emily on the ground about 30 to 40 feet from Hanhanian's car.
Ellen said she is a forgiving person and if Hanhanian had said it was an accident and asked for forgiveness, she would have done so in her heart.
“I thought I was prepared for the most profound loss, the worst loss a person can experience, losing a child, but that wasn't the case,” Ellen said. “This was a man who intentionally hit a young child walking, and he had no remorse at all. At all.”
This view shows the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Heathercliff Road area where Emily Shane died. Heathercliff Road was co-named with Emily Shane Way. (Google Maps)
According to court documents, Hanhanian told investigators that he drank four glasses of wine and took pills that belonged to his fiancee before getting behind the wheel. Due to his “erratic” behavior, he was fired from his job at a veterinary clinic two days ago and left a suicide note next to his fiancée's bed instructing her parents to tell her that he was “gone” and “never to return.” left behind.
Hanhanian's former lawyer, Bradley Brunon, argued at trial that his client's autism prevented him from recognizing that his actions posed a deadly risk to himself or others.
“His psychological condition prevented him from thinking ahead of time about the possible consequences of his reckless driving. That testimony was clearly established at trial,” Brunon told FOX News Digital.
He said Hanhanian did not intentionally try to kill Emily and should have been charged with vehicular manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Mr Brunon said: “It was not his intention and he had no criminal history so the time spent in custody is sufficient punishment.”
Michelle Shane and daughter Emily (Courtesy of Shane's family)
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The couple said Hankanian exaggerated his autism diagnosis to “game the system” in order to get released. Hanhanian was previously diagnosed with autism, Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Michelle told the court that Hanhanian was nervous and acted as if he could not understand the proceedings, but a prison tape recording with his girlfriend showed Hanhanian as they discussed the incident. It was completely normal, the Shanes said.
”So this guy can deceive and is actually very smart and can express himself to get the result he wants, ”Ellen said.
Hanhanian apologized to Schoen's family shortly before he was sentenced in June 2012, saying he was “deeply sorry” for the pain and grief Schoen had caused them.
The Shanes say they don't believe it's sincere.
The couple wants Hanhanian to be kept in prison for longer than his 15-year sentence, but even if Newsom overturns the sentence, they say he could reapply every year until he is eventually released. There is. This prospect means that the Shanes will fight his release every year until he is released, reliving the tragedy every year before Christmas.
”“This is cruel because it doesn't bring Emily back from the dead and back into our lives,” Michelle said. [the] Death of a 13 year old boy. When I meet her friends now, they are 27, 28 years old, young women. But in our minds, our child remains 13 years old and we literally have to relive it and then argue why the man who killed our child should be released. So this is cruel. ”
“And to be honest, Ellen is much more forgiving than I am. [couldn’t] As far as I'm concerned, he might rot in jail so I don't care. But if he should be released, he shouldn't be released…as a 40-year-old with all of his young life given to him. Wait until he's 60, wait until he's 55, so most of his youth is gone. ”
Ellen Shane and her daughter Emily (Courtesy of Shane's family)
Now they're hoping Newsom will act, trying to raise awareness and hoping others will write letters to the governor. The couple said they have received support from other lawmakers, including state Sens. Ben Allen and Henry Stern, but so far they have heard nothing from Newsom about the possibility of parole revocation. It is said that there is no.
Mr. Hanhanian received a suitability offer on October 22nd after a parole suitability hearing. Newsom's office said the decision will be subject to review by the board's Office of Legal Affairs.
“If the board's decision becomes final within 120 days of the date of the parole hearing, it will be subject to review by the governor,” a spokesperson for Newsom's office told FOX News Digital. Ta.
“The Governor's Office has not received Mr. Hanhanian's complaint again from the Parole Hearing Board. If it does, it will be carefully considered.”
In revoking his parole in 2023, Newsom said there is evidence that Hanhanian poses an “unreasonable danger to society if released from prison.” Newsom wrote that Hanhanian worked to better himself while in prison by participating in self-help programs, taking college courses and working as a teacher's assistant.
However, he noted that Hankanian had “demonstrated inconsistent treatment compliance” in recent years at a California substance abuse treatment facility in Corcoran, Kings County, and at a state prison.
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They said he wasn't taking his medication at the time of the incident and they can't believe he'll continue taking it when he's released.
Despite their continued grief, the Shanes have tried to make some good out of their loss.
Michelle and Ellen Schoen are suing California Governor Gavin Newsom to block Sheena Hankanian's release. (Jason Almond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images/File)
Michelle, who was an executive producer on films such as “Catch Me If You Can'' and “I, Robot,'' has become an advocate for road safety and has led the way in the notoriously dangerous 21-mile road safety zone. We have created a unique documentary that sheds light. At PCH, many of which don't have pedestrian sidewalks or adequate embankments, he's developing a mobile app game to teach young people about driving.
According to California Department of Transportation data, from 2018 to 2023, there were 537 crashes resulting in 779 injuries and 23 deaths. In 2023, four Pepperdine University students were fatally struck by a PCH on their way to an event, and their deaths are the subject of a documentary.
The couple also established a non-profit organization named after her, The Emily, to help honor Emily's memory. Emily Shane Foundationprovides individualized learning and instruction to middle school students with learning difficulties.
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Ellen said Emily also had a mild learning disability and the initiative was a way to honor her memory. So far, the nonprofit has helped more than 1,100 students in 14 schools across Los Angeles, and the couple said they are constantly seeking donations to help fund the program.
“It's interesting how a tragedy, probably the worst tragedy, changed the entire trajectory of my life,” Ellen said, adding that it became her “passion in life.”
“Words cannot express how incredibly rewarding it is to see these children instilled with confidence and motivation and realize that there are no limits to achieving their goals and dreams. That's a very rewarding and important and beautiful testament to me.''Emily So it's interesting how things play out in life. ”
