District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that Shawn Michael Shirck a 29-year-old of Ojai, was convicted by jury of two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the 2019 deaths of Margaret Dahl of Oak View, and Phyllis Porter of Georgia. The jury also found true the special allegations that Shirck used a knife to commit the crimes.
In 2019, Ms. Porter, age 82, was on an extended visit with her daughter, Ms. Dahl, age 59, at Ms. Dahl’s home on Valley Ridge Street in Oak View. Ms. Dahl had been in a long-term relationship with the homeowner, and cared for the house when he was away. The homeowner had four sons, including Shawn Shirck. Shirck previously lived in the residence with Ms. Dahl but had moved out weeks earlier.
Shortly after midnight on August 24, 2019, Shirck violently attacked and killed the two victims with a knife, in the home on Valley Ridge Street. The victims were discovered the morning of August 24. One of Shirck’s brothers came to the home and discovered a shattered glass door and the victims inside.
Shirck was arrested by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office on August 25, 2019.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Nguyen, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Homicide Unit, was the prosecutor who handled the case.
Shirk is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 48 of the Ventura County Superior Court.