Commentary via Midwest Crime | “Family and friends of Darisha Bailey Vath hugged each other — a few cried — after jurors found Dylan Simmons guilty Thursday of murdering the 17-year-old by hitting her with his car after a fight last year at a Forest Lake park.

They talked about justice, closure — and how much she is missed.

“She’s finally getting justice after almost a year and a half,” said her mother, Sareth Vath. “I feel like now we can start grieving correctly, because the last year and a half we weren’t able to.”

Jurors concluded that Simmons, 21, of North Branch, did not intend to kill Vath, acquitting him of second-degree intentional murder.

He was convicted of the remaining charges: second-degree unintentional murder during the commission of a felony, criminal vehicular homicide and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Simmons showed no emotion or reaction when the verdict was read, nor when the jurors were polled.

Vath’s mother, when asked about the jury acquitting Simmons of intentional murder, said, “He still murdered her, so …”

The jury, which was made up of 11 men and one woman, deliberated for about four hours Wednesday and an hour and a half Thursday, following a five-day trial.

Washington County District Judge Siv Mjanger set Simmons’ sentencing hearing for March 20. Prosecutors intend to seek an aggravated upward sentencing departure.

“This verdict affirms that Dylan Simmons murdered Darisha Bailey Vath, pure and simple,” Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson said in a statement. “As her family experiences this moment of justice, we continue to keep them in our thoughts while they cope with the pain of their loss.”

Simmons’ attorneys argued at trial that he was faced with an “angry mob” and had acted in self-defense when he drove his Mazda sedan at Vath and others from the opposing side in the group fight around 1:20 a.m. July 16, 2023, in Lakeside Memorial Park in downtown Forest Lake.” – AOL NEWS | Posted by Thrillz