Convicted double murderer Mackenzie Shirilla, whose crimes were featured in Netflix's true crime documentary The Crash, has posted a selfie from prison as she continues to fight her sentence. The 22-year-old is serving two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life for killing her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, and their friend, Davion Flanagan, 19.
Details of the Crime
In 2022, when she was 17, Shirilla intentionally drove her car at nearly 100 mph into a brick building in Strongsville, Ohio, in the early hours of the morning. She was the sole survivor. Initially, she claimed to have 'no recollection of that morning' and said the crash was not intentional, as it was 'not in my character.' However, at her 2023 trial, Cuyahoga County Judge Nancy Margaret Russo ruled her actions premeditated murder, stating: 'This was not reckless driving. This was murder. She had a mission, and she executed it with precision. The mission was death.' The judge also called Shirilla 'hell on wheels' and described the event as a 'selfish, intentional, and cruel decision.'
Appeal Efforts
After three years in prison, with her first parole chance scheduled for September 2037, Shirilla's lawyers filed a new motion asking the Ohio Supreme Court to reconsider hearing her appeals. The court had declined a review on June 23, ruling the petition was filed late and the trial court lacked jurisdiction to excuse the delay. Her attorneys argue she faced confusing, inconsistent deadlines, including her lawyer missing a deadline due to a Leap Day, calling it 'ineffective assistance of counsel.'
Prison Selfie and Social Media
Shirilla's latest selfie, posted on her official Instagram account now managed by 'Mackenzie's Support Team,' shows her in a fitted blue roll-neck top with straight hair and makeup, standing in a prison corridor. The caption states that her 'post conviction relief was denied due to a deadline technicality' and that the 'decision has nothing to do with the contents of it.' The team says Shirilla is 'trying to do better every day and holding on to hope' and asks her 57,100 followers to 'keep sharing everything you can' and sign a petition for a 'fair re-trial.'
In February, Shirilla posted her first prison selfie, showing her in a communal area with a Christmas tree in the background. She wrote: 'Thank you to those who see through the lies... I am NOT guilty of murder.' Her support team claimed that 'there is five seconds of car data and that is the only evidence they had,' adding that 'lack of evidence is not evidence of intent.'
Family Reactions
In the Netflix documentary, Shirilla's parents defend her, vowing to bring her home. However, Dominic's sister, Christine, told People in May that the Shirillas have not shown enough remorse. 'It's all for show,' she said, adding: 'There is a fine line between defending your kids. And they created a monster — they're monsters themselves.' Christine also launched a petition for 'Dom and Davion's Law,' urging Ohio to update Son of Sam laws for the digital age, fearing Shirilla could profit from social media. The petition states: 'Since the documentary aired, our family has had to relive this tragedy publicly... What hurts even more is seeing how modern social media culture allows violent offenders to gain attention, followers, donations, publicity, and influence from the crimes that destroyed families like mine.'
