A 19-year-old charged with vehicular homicide in the February 2025 death of a Minnesota girl is prison-bound, Us Weekly has learned.
Conner Michael Iversen of St. Paul is accused of killing 11-year-old Lilyana Loycano last year after authorities said he sped through a stop sign and slammed into Lilyana’s family’s car in Independence on February 26, 2025, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Lilyana’s parents, Eric and Emmy Loycano, had been driving her and her three brothers to school at the time of the crash, police said, the newspaper reported.
Iversen was allegedly on his phone before he struck the family’s car, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the paper.
Iversen pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide in connection with Lilyana’s death and was sentenced on Wednesday, April 15, to three years and eight months in prison, with a credit for time served.
Lilyana’s mother, Emmy, called the 44-month sentence “a slap in the face,” KARE 11 reported.
Emmy was joined by family members and friends to witness Iversen’s sentencing, according to the TV station.
“I hear her last words. ‘Watch out,’ just a mere millisecond before he hit us,” Emmy said while recalling the crash, according to the TV station “Those were the last words I will ever hear from my child.”
Following the collision that sent the entire Loycano family to the hospital, Lilyana died of her injuries after spending two days on life support on February 28, 2025, according to a GoFundMe page created by Emmy’s friend, Cassie Nelson.
At Iversen’s sentencing hearing, Sgt. Jon Howes, an officer with West Hennepin Public Safety who responded to the crash, said Iversen “was disrespectful to the seriousness of the situation” while at the scene, KMSP-TV reported.
Lilyana’s uncle also said at the hearing that Iversen was not remorseful, according to the TV station.
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While he was speaking, Iversen shouted, “He’s lying on my name,” the TV station reported.
Iversen was represented by attorney Laura Baldwin, who said in court that “nascent mental health issues” were related to the circumstances of the crash, according to Court TV.
“I apologize and offer my deepest condolences to the family,” Iversen said in the courtroom, Court TV reported. “I’m sorry for this unfortunate accident that should never have happened. I know that words can’t do any justice.”
Before the fatal crash, Lilyana was a fifth-grade student at Grandview Middle School, according to her online obituary. Her organs were donated after her death.
“Lily was the heartbeat of the family,” the obituary says. “The void left by her tragic passing will never be filled. We find comfort in Lilyana’s legacy living on through organ donations to continue on her giving spirit.”
