Jordan Kenyon, a career criminal with a history of dangerous behavior, was driving at 153 km/h (95 mph) on the drug GHB and without a license when he killed 12-year-old Mia Rossiter. The collision occurred on the Hamilton Highway at Stonehaven, west of Geelong, as Mia was in the back seat of her family's car returning from dinner. Her mother was driving, and her father was asleep in the front passenger seat.
County Court of Victoria Judge Michael Tinney described Kenyon as a "maniac" during sentencing, stating, "It was really just a matter of time until you killed someone on the road." Kenyon had been on bail and wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the fatal crash. He had also fallen asleep at the wheel when the collision occurred.
Kenyon was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in jail. He has already spent nearly three years in custody awaiting sentencing. Mia Rossiter was due to celebrate her 13th birthday three weeks after her death. Her father, Paul Rossiter, told reporters outside the court that he believed the justice system had failed and that Kenyon would likely re-offend. "They've let us down and they've let a lot of other people down as well," he said.
Evidence presented in court included a video taken by Kenyon three weeks before the fatal crash, showing him driving erratically, chugging a canned alcoholic beverage, and bragging about his dangerous actions. In the video, he stated, "I'm the best f*ng designated drunk driver in the world" and asked his passenger if they should "kill this c." He also threatened to crash the car, saying, "I will crash into a pole tonight."
Kenyon has a lengthy criminal history. In 2019, he was jailed for over six years for leading police on a high-speed pursuit in a stolen Mercedes-Benz, driving at speeds of up to 170 km/h (105 mph), evading police, and committing burglaries. At the time of that offense, he was on bail and driving a stolen vehicle. A judge had previously warned him that his behavior would not be tolerated and that he faced years of imprisonment if he did not change his ways.
In 2016, Kenyon was jailed for six months for a crime spree involving smash-and-grab break-ins at 11 businesses across Geelong. He was also serving community correction orders for other offenses at that time. A magistrate had previously told Kenyon that he needed to address his drug issues to avoid further prison sentences.
In 2014, a detective stated that Kenyon's arrest had coincided with a significant drop in burglaries in the Geelong area, suggesting his involvement in numerous criminal activities. He was found in the backseat of a car with a baseball bat and a rifle two years later. Mia Rossiter was remembered by her mother, Danica Rossiter, as "the light of my life." Her mother expressed deep hatred for Kenyon, stating, "There's no words for the amount of hate I have for him."