In 2010, Michel and Ellen Shane lost their 13-year-old daughter, Emily, in a heartbreaking tragedy. Emily was struck and killed by a driver, Sina Khankhanian, who went on a reckless 17-mile rampage along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Emily, a carefree and fun-loving teenager who loved sports and dancing, was walking to her usual pickup spot after a sleepover when Khankhanian’s car fatally hit her.
Khankhanian, then 29, was upset and experiencing suicidal thoughts after losing his job. He had written a suicide note before leaving home, consumed alcohol and pills, and drove erratically, weaving between cars at high speeds. Witnesses described his behavior as dangerous and out of control. He ultimately plowed into Emily, throwing her 30 feet into the air. She struck a sign before landing, and Khankhanian’s car flipped onto an embankment. Despite the crash, he walked away unscathed.
The aftermath was devastating for Emily’s parents. Michel recalled seeing Khankhanian’s dangerous driving moments before the crash and realizing the tragic consequences when Emily didn’t show up at their meeting spot. Ellen recounted the chilling testimony from a fire chief, who said Khankhanian showed no remorse after the accident, making cruel and callous remarks about Emily.
Khankhanian was charged with second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in 2012. During the trial, his attorney argued that Khankhanian’s autism and other mental health conditions, including Tourette’s syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, impaired his ability to understand the consequences of his actions. However, Emily’s parents believed his behavior in court and in prison recordings showed he was manipulating the system to gain leniency.
In 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom reversed a parole board’s decision to release Khankhanian, citing concerns that he remained a danger to society. However, in October 2024, the board approved his release again, and the case now awaits Newsom’s review. Michel and Ellen Shane are pleading with the governor to block Khankhanian’s release, arguing that he is unrepentant and could still pose a threat.
The tragedy has had a lasting impact on the Shanes’ lives. Michel, a former Hollywood producer, became an advocate for road safety, focusing on the dangers of the Pacific Coast Highway, a stretch notorious for accidents. He has worked on a documentary about the highway and is developing an educational app for young drivers.
In Emily’s memory, the Shanes created the Emily Shane Foundation, which provides personalized learning and mentoring for middle school students with learning challenges. The program, inspired by Emily’s own mild learning difficulties, has helped over 1,100 students in Los Angeles schools. Ellen described the foundation as her life’s passion, bringing a sense of purpose and hope out of the family’s immense loss.
Though the pain of losing Emily remains unbearable, the Shanes continue to fight for justice and channel their grief into helping others. For them, ensuring Khankhanian remains behind bars is part of honoring their daughter’s memory and protecting society from further harm.
