Maryland teen sentenced to 7 years in fatal stolen car crash that killed Prince George's mother

Fox - 5 DC
28 followers
Oct 30, 2026
Staying in the county, a teenager will spend seven years
in prison for killing a mother while driving a stolen car.
Tonight, her family says the punishment does not go far enough.
Our Tisha Lewis joining us live
from Upper Marlborough with more on this.
Tisha.
Well, the judge focusing on the details of the case
when it came to sentencing Michael Collins,
who was 16 years old at the time of the incident,
saying that this wasn't just a 16-year-old who went on a joyride.
The judge pointing out, rather, Collins stole the car.
While he was on probation for an unrelated crime before crashing it,
and he was running from police, according to the judge.
Collins, meanwhile, will serve seven years behind bars.
He'll get credit for 435 days served,
and upon release, have five years probation.
The judge says his reckless actions on August 26th.
26, 2025 are ultimately what led to the death of Shante Denise Canty.
Now, Canty was 35 years old.
Her nonverbal son was in the car at the time of the crash.
She also has a six-year-old daughter.
Today, the judge asserting this case
is different than a first-degree murder case.
Even so, Collins is accused of driving
at high speeds through a Landover intersection and crashing.
Now mother is gone. In court, Canty's family members fought through
tears as they described the impact her loss has had on their family.
Canty's mother also shared a victim impact statement through a family
member saying she never imagined losing her daughter like this.
The judge pointing out Collins' extensive criminal history dating back
to 2023, including robbery, armed robbery,
unauthorized vehicle use, and now this.
I really don't feel justice got served.
Because the little time that he did get, my grandkids,
they're not going to get their mothers back.
And I'm not going to get my daughter back.
He can always get back out and be on the street.
But Shante can't.
I'm just, I don't know.
It's not fair.
I feel as though he needs more time.
Again, being in jail is something temporary.
My sister's life got stolen from us.
We can't get that back.
We're never going to get that back.
Part of Collins' sentence includes completing community service
for eight hours every year of probation on August 26th,
the date the fatal crash happened.
He was also sentenced to five years
with all suspended for stealing the car.
Michael Collins read a letter out loud apologizing to the family,
the victim's family, though,
saying they don't believe that that letter and apology was genuine.
They want Michael Collins to serve life behind bars.
Helma.
