Ojai Valley Man Who Killed Two Women Released From Jail
Tuesday June 20, 2023
(Photos courtesy VCSO)
Updated--Shawn Shirck of Ojai was released from jail Tuesday afternoon even though he was convicted of killing two women.
That's because a Ventura County jury found the 29-year-old man guilty of two counts of Involuntary Manslaughter, not Murder, in the fatal stabbings of the two women in Oak View less than four years ago.
Because Shirck was convicted of the lesser charge, the most the judge could sentence him to was six years and four months in prison.
But he's already served three years and 10 months in the county jail awaiting trial and when you add the extra credits inmates receive for their time behind bars, the judge said Shirck has completed his sentence and he ordered him released.
Five hours later, Shirck was a free man.
On August 24, 2019, 59-year-old Margaret Dahl and her mother, 82-year-old Phyllis Porter of Georgia, were fatally stabbed in the home in the 100 block on Valley Ridge Drive in Oak View.
The next day, deputies located and arrested Shirck, the son of the man renting the home to Dahl.
Shirck was charged with two counts of murder but the jury instead opted for the lesser included charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Shirck testified in his own defense along with family, friends, and expert witnesses.
The defense convinced the jury that Shirck suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from childhood abuse and was so drunk at the time of the killings that he was unconscious or unaware of what he was doing even though could function as if he was aware.
The prosecution argued that Shirck's actions before, during, and after the killings showed that he was aware and were evidence of a guilty mind.
At Tuesday's sentencing hearing, the family and friends of the victims made victim impact statements.
The judge did order Shirck to be on parole but only recommended Shirck take part in a counseling or educational program to deal with his substance abuse and psychological problems.
