Where Is Mackenzie Shirilla Now? Inside Her Life 3 Years After She Crashed Her Car at 100 MPH, Killing Two Passengers

Mackenzie Shirilla was convicted of killing her boyfriend and a friend after crashing her car into a building in 2022

Three years after a horrific crash that killed two young men and changed the course of her life, Mackenzie Shirilla remains behind bars—convicted of murder in what prosecutors called a deliberate act of revenge.

On July 31, 2022, Shirilla—then 17—was driving at more than 100 mph when she slammed her car into a brick building in Strongsville, Ohio. Her longtime boyfriend, 20-year-old Dominic Russo, and their friend, 19-year-old Davion Flanagan, were killed instantly. Shirilla survived but was later charged with—and convicted of—intentionally causing the crash.

In August 2023, following a bench trial, a judge found Shirilla guilty of all 12 charges, including murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, felonious assault, and drug possession. She was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 15 years to life in prison, with parole eligibility after 15 years.

A Toxic Relationship and a Tragic Night

At the time of the crash, Shirilla was a high school senior living with Russo, her boyfriend of four years. Court documents and witness testimony later described a rocky relationship filled with arguments, breakups, and emotional volatility.

In the weeks before the crash, friends and family noticed troubling signs. Russo’s mother, Christine, testified that the couple had been fighting often and that Shirilla had grown increasingly possessive. A family friend recalled hearing Shirilla threaten to “wreck the car” during a confrontation just weeks before the fatal incident.

On the night of the crash, Shirilla, Russo, and Flanagan attended multiple parties. Around 5:30 a.m. on July 31, the trio left a friend’s house. Minutes later, Shirilla accelerated her 2018 Toyota Camry to over 100 mph and crashed into a commercial building. Prosecutors said the event data recorder showed she floored the gas and didn’t touch the brakes. Russo and Flanagan were pronounced dead at the scene. Shirilla was found unconscious and critically injured.

Conviction and Controversy

During her 2023 trial, prosecutors argued that Shirilla intentionally caused the crash as a way to end her troubled relationship with Russo. They pointed to evidence including surveillance footage showing her speeding, a lack of mechanical failure, and the absence of braking. Investigators also discovered over 100 videos on Shirilla’s social media showing reckless driving.

Shirilla’s defense claimed she had no memory of the crash and suggested that her slipper might have gotten stuck on the accelerator—though an expert testified that the evidence didn’t support accidental acceleration.

Shirilla was also found to have marijuana in her system and psilocybin mushrooms in her possession at the time of the crash.

In her emotional sentencing, Shirilla tearfully addressed the victims’ families:

“I hope one day you can see how I’d never let this happen or do it on purpose… I wish I could remember what happened. I’m heartbroken.”

Where She Is Now

Now 20, Mackenzie Shirilla is serving her sentence at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. Though she is eligible for parole in 2038, many family members of the victims believe she should serve longer.

“I can’t imagine how I would feel if Mackenzie got out in 14 years,” Russo’s sister told PEOPLE. “My brother’s life was stolen. Davion’s life was stolen. They don’t get to come back.”

Not everyone in Russo’s family shares that view. His father, Frank Russo, told NBC News he believes Shirilla deserves a second chance:

“She’s just a little kid. She screwed up. I don’t want the rest of her life ruined too.”

Her Family’s Fight for a New Trial

In May 2025, Shirilla’s parents, Steve and Natalie, publicly defended their daughter for the first time. Alongside neurologist Dr. Kamal Chemali, they claim new medical evidence suggests Shirilla may have lost consciousness before the crash.

They’ve also pointed to apologetic text messages from Dominic Russo, which they say offer insight into the couple’s dynamic and contradict the prosecution’s narrative that Shirilla was the aggressor.

“Show me one piece of evidence that says she did this on purpose,” her father told 3News. “There isn’t any.”

Shirilla’s new legal team has filed additional appeals, arguing that key evidence—both medical and emotional—was overlooked during her original trial. Whether those appeals will lead to a new trial or reduced sentence remains to be seen.

What’s Next?

As she begins her third year in prison, Shirilla’s future remains uncertain. Her family continues to fight for her release, while the families of Russo and Flanagan continue to mourn the loss of two young lives.

“I hope justice continues to be served,” said Flanagan’s relatives in a statement. “Our son is never coming back. But we can’t forget what happened—or why.”