Mackenzie Shirilla was just 17 years old when she crashed her car into a brick building in Strongsville, Ohio, in July 2022. Shirilla survived the impact, but her boyfriend Dominic Russo and his friend Davion Flanagan were killed instantly.
While police initially treated the crash as a tragic accident, they soon discovered that it was actually premeditated. In August 2023, Shirilla was found to have purposefully and intentionally crashed and was convicted of murder and other felony charges. Her crime is explored in the new Netflix documentary aptly named The Crash, which delves into the investigation that put her behind bars.
Here’s what we know about Mackenzie Shirilla and her life in prison.
Who Is Mackenzie Shirilla?
Born in Strongsville in August 2004, Shirilla grew up in a middle-class household with her parents Natalie and Steven Shirilla and her older sister, Danielle. Before her arrest, she was a student at Strongsville High School and an aspiring social media influencer.
At the time of the crash, Shirilla had been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Dominic Russo, 20, for four years. Though their relationship was always turbulent, Russo’s mother Christine testified that the couple had started fighting more in the months leading up to the crash.
Just two weeks before, Shirilla threatened to “crash this car right now” while Russo was in the passenger seat. A friend of Russo’s also witnessed Shirilla hit him as he was getting out of her car.
How Did Mackenzie Shirilla Kill Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan?
On July 31, 2022, Shirilla, Russo, and Russo’s friend Davion Flanagan, 19, were driving home from a party in the early hours of the morning when Shirilla suddenly accelerated to 100 miles per hour and crashed her 2018 Toyota Camry into a brick building. Russo and Flanagan were declared dead at the scene. Shirilla, who was found unconscious with her foot still on the gas, sustained severe injuries, including three broken ribs, a broken femur, and a lacerated liver, which required multiple surgeries.
Police initially believed the wreck was a freak accident, but after analyzing her car’s computer, they found that she made no attempt to brake or slow down and had even visited the exact location of the crash a few days prior. Authorities also found psilocybin mushrooms in her vehicle and determined that she and the two victims were under the influence of marijuana.
Following her release from the hospital in November 2022, Shirilla was arrested and charged with the murders of Russo and Flanagan. She pleaded not guilty, claiming she had no memory of the event, and opted for a bench trial, in which the verdict is decided by a judge instead of a jury.
What Is Mackenzie Shirilla’s Sentence?
During her trial, Shirilla’s attorneys claimed that she had fainted at the wheel because she has Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a blood circulation disorder that can cause lightheadedness and fainting.
Her mother, Natalie, even testified that she had fainted before on more than one occasion, but prosecutors argued that the crash was intentional because her car increased in speed as it approached the building. They also cited her previous threats against Russo, claiming that she wanted to harm him because he had threatened to break up with her.
In the end, Judge Nancy Margaret Russo found Shirilla guilty in August 2023, referring to her as “literal hell on wheels.” She was convicted of murder, felonious assault, and aggravated vehicular homicide, among other charges, and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
“I’m so deeply sorry,” Shirilla said at her sentencing. “I would never let this happen or do it on purpose.”
Where Is Mackenzie Shirilla Today?
Shirilla, now 21, is currently imprisoned at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio. She has appealed her conviction three times, including in March 2026, but her request for a new trial was denied.
Shirilla’s parents, who both maintain that she’s innocent, told 3News Investigates that they remain in daily contact with her, revealing that she spends much of her time in prison painting and journaling.
Shirilla will not be eligible for parole until October 2037.
How to Watch The Crash on Netflix
Directed by Gareth Johnson, The Crash explores Shirilla’s deadly car wreck and the unexpected murder investigation that quickly ensued. The new documentary arrives to Netflix on May 15.
Catherine Caruso joined the Biography.com staff in August 2024, having previously worked as a freelance journalist for several years. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she studied English literature. When she’s not working on a new story, you can find her reading, hitting the gym, or watching too much TV.
