Laguna Beach woman convicted in fatal 2022 hit-and-run

Sysillia Kianna Morrison Montes De Oca, 22, has been convicted of multiple felonies following a fatal hit-and-run in Laguna Beach. The charges include gross vehicular manslaughter, hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury, and failing to stop at a hit-and-run involving injury or death.

The collision occurred on August 11, 2022, at South Coast Highway and Peal Street. Montes De Oca was driving a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta when she struck Stanley Isaacs, 60, and his wife, Catherina, as they were crossing the street. The impact killed Isaacs and injured his wife. Prosecutors stated that Montes De Oca had informed passengers she intended to speed up before the crash and alleged she had consumed marijuana that evening.

Following the incident, Montes De Oca fled the scene. Investigators noted she later returned to the site with a friend and conducted online searches regarding deadly hit-and-runs. Co-defendant Jack Francis Bannigan previously pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact for concealing the damaged vehicle and received one year of informal probation. Montes De Oca is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13.