The Crash: Where Mackenzie Shirilla Is Now After Murder Trial

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In July 2022, a car crash resulted in the deaths of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan. Was 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla the only person to survive the accident?

Did Mackenzie intentionally crash her car into a wall, trying to kill Dom, 19, and Davion, 20, essentially becoming a dangerous and destructive force?

In August 2023, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy Margaret Russo found Mackenzie guilty of murder, stating the fatal crash was “the culmination of decisions made by one person.” She described it as a deliberate act, explaining that the driver “chose a course of death and destruction.” Haunting security footage captured the car speeding down a Strongsville, Ohio street just moments before the crash.

The new Netflix documentary, The Crash, explores the details of Mackenzie’s conviction and the investigation into her relationship with Dom. The documentary presents two different views of their relationship: some believe it was unhealthy and turbulent, while others see it as a typical, passionate romance between young people.

Mackenzie, now 21, described a turbulent relationship, saying, “We would fight, reconcile, split up, and then get back together.” Speaking in her first interview from prison, where she is serving two sentences of 15 years to life, she admitted, “It was a difficult relationship, but there were good times too.”

She says she doesn’t remember anything that happened in the car before the accident, and insists it wasn’t intentional.

Okay, so look, I get it. Mackenzie didn’t exactly say she was completely blameless, and honestly, I’ve always known she was right there in the middle of everything that went wrong. But a murderer? No way. She drove the car, she was part of the disaster, but she didn’t intend for anyone to die. I just know it. She’s not a monster, she just made terrible choices and is paying for them now. It’s awful, but she’s not a murderer!

Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecutor Tim Troup, who tried the case, begs to differ.

According to the report, they concluded she acted intentionally, as the evidence strongly suggested there were no other plausible explanations.

Here is what to know about the shocking story behind Netflix’s The Crash:

Mackenzie Shirilla, born Aug. 2, 2004, grew up in the Cleveland, Ohio, suburb of Strongsville.

She began dating Dominic Russo, who was three years her senior, during her freshman year of high school. After graduating in 2022, she moved in with him.

Around 5:30 a.m. on July 31, 2022, Mackenzie was driving a Toyota Camry when she crashed into a brick building at the corner of Alameda and Progress Drive in Strongsville.

Police arrived at 6:20 a.m. to find, as one officer said into his radio, a car “split in two.”

Dom was lying in the front seat with his friend, Davion Flanagan, on top of him, according to Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecutor Tim Troup in the book The Crash. Both Dom and Davion were declared dead at the scene.

When officers searched Mackenzie, they discovered a small amount of marijuana in her purse and 8 grams of psilocybin mushrooms hidden on her person, according to Troup.

I was going through all the possible reasons for the crash,” Troup, who helped police with the investigation and handled the case in court in 2023, remembered in the documentary. “Could it have been a mistake by the driver? Was someone under the influence? Or was it something even worse, like a major crime?”

In the book The Crash, Mackenzie’s father, Steve Shirilla, reported that his daughter suffered a broken femur, three fractured ribs, and injuries to her liver and kidney.

He pointed to his upper arm and explained that the bone had broken, completely snapping and tearing his tricep. He also said that both of the main arteries in her neck were damaged when her neck broke.

Text messages revealed in the documentary The Crash show Mackenzie brought up a previous instance of Dom being unfaithful, something her friends say led to her struggling to trust him.

According to a friend of Dom’s, who spoke to police on camera, Mackenzie had a very up-and-down relationship with Dom. She’d switch quickly between expressing strong affection and threatening to break up with him.

According to audio recordings, Dom’s brother, Angelo Russo, told police in September 2022 that Dom attempted to end the relationship with Mackenzie several times, including as early as July, but they stayed together.

Rosie Graham, a friend of Mackenzie and Dom, disagreed with the idea that their relationship was unhealthy. In the documentary, she explained that they didn’t fight constantly or have major issues. She emphasized that Mackenzie was happy with her life and enjoyed her relationship with Dom.

She remembered they’d all been at a sleepover the night before the accident, and Dom had snuggled with Mackenzie on the sofa.

Rosie said everything was completely smooth and positive – there wasn’t a single disagreement, moment of stress, or negative feeling between anyone.

As a long-time follower of the investigation, I was really struck by Trooper Elliot Rawson’s testimony. He explained that, based on his crash reconstruction work with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, he determined the car was traveling at an average of 97.8 miles per hour just before it crashed into the building. It’s a shocking speed, and really highlights the severity of the situation.

According to Troup, tests revealed the presence of THC, the chemical that makes marijuana active, in Mackenzie’s bloodstream. However, no alcohol or psilocybin were detected.

According to a forensic auto investigator, the car’s brakes, steering, tires, and acceleration were all functioning as expected, meaning it didn’t experience a mechanical failure, Troup stated.

According to Sergeant Ryan Fox of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, data from the Camry’s recorder indicated the gas pedal was fully pressed down for five seconds before the crash.

Typically, drivers would brake or stop to prevent a collision like that, but in this instance, the driver didn’t hit the brakes at all, according to Fox.

As a longtime follower of the case, I remember the data clearly. Just three seconds before the crash, the driver made a series of quick movements – he turned the steering wheel sharply to the right, then to the left, and then again hard to the right. And incredibly, the car briefly went into neutral before being put back into drive.

Honestly, when I heard what happened, I just knew they were fighting to survive. It breaks my heart, but I picture Dom and Davion desperately trying everything – yanking on the steering wheel, fumbling with the gearshift… they were giving it their all, but it just wasn’t enough. It all happened so fast, and they just couldn’t regain control. I keep replaying it in my head, and it’s just… devastating.

According to a friend of Dom’s mother, Mackenzie had reportedly threatened to drive a car with Dom inside off the road two weeks prior to the crash. Detective Troup stated that the evidence clearly showed Mackenzie intentionally caused the crash, noting the car’s accelerator was fully pressed while the brakes weren’t used at all, and that neither mechanical failure nor substance use were factors. He also described Mackenzie and Dominic’s relationship as deeply troubled and on the verge of collapse.

Mackenzie was arrested for murder on Nov. 4, 2022.

She pleaded not guilty and waived her right to a jury trial.

Over four days in court, starting August 7th, 2023, Troup presented evidence – including text messages, social media posts, and witness statements – suggesting a harmful relationship where Dom wanted to leave, but Mackenzie wouldn’t allow it.

According to Troup’s testimony in court, the woman intentionally crashed her car into a wall and then firmly stuck to her decision.

Mackenzie stated she didn’t remember the crash or anything that happened that morning. Her mother, Natalie Shirilla, testified that Mackenzie was diagnosed with POTS in 2017 – a long-term condition affecting the body’s automatic functions, causing a fast heartbeat and potentially sudden dizziness – and believes a medical issue caused Mackenzie to lose consciousness.

The judge convicted Mackenzie of four counts of murder, acknowledging that Ohio law permits prosecutors to present multiple legal arguments for a single act. She was also found guilty of four counts of felonious assault, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, drug possession, and possessing criminal tools.

Mackenzie was sentenced on Aug. 31, 2023, to two terms of 15 years to life in prison, to be served concurrently.

 
At the hearing, the then-19-year-old said in a prepared statement that she was “deeply sorry” and she hoped Dominic and Davion’s families could see that she “didn’t do this on purpose.”

In the aftermath of the incident, Davion’s sister, Davyne Flanagan, strongly criticized Mackenzie’s apology, calling it insincere. She stated, “I can tell when someone isn’t being genuine, and that apology didn’t feel real at all.”

To honor Davion, his family created a scholarship fund to help students who need financial assistance attend barber school – something he was planning to do himself in the fall of 2022. His father, Scott Flanagan, said the day they awarded the first scholarship was “one of the few days I was truly happy” since the accident.

Oh my god, it just broke my heart hearing Dom’s dad, Frank Russo, and his sister, Christine, talk about how they stood by Mackenzie even after she got arrested. They really were there for her, no matter what, and it was so moving to see them share that. I mean, a lot of families would have turned away, but they didn’t! It just shows how much they care about her and Dom.

Christine explained they initially assumed alcohol or drugs might have played a role, figuring accidents are common. “You’d never imagine someone like that could be responsible for your brother’s death,” she said.

Mackenzie, who is 21 years old, is currently serving her sentence at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, according to state prison records.

In The Crash, she described her daily struggle, saying, “It’s incredibly difficult in here.” She explained she tries to improve herself and avoid trouble each day, and that she constantly thinks about her loved ones.

In September 2024, an appeals court in Ohio confirmed her conviction, and the state Supreme Court refused to review the case in 2025. She will first be eligible for parole in September 2037.

After the trial concluded, Mackenzie publicly stated, “I’m not a bad person.”

She believes she and Dom likely would have been married by now. She described him as incredibly protective and loving, adding that they were true partners.

Mackenzie admitted they argued, but things always quickly went back to normal. They’d often be watching movies and eating popcorn together just hours later.

Oh my god, just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine. She said they were heading back to Dom’s place, it was like 5 a.m., and then… she remembers turning onto the street, and then nothing. She woke up in the hospital the next day, and she said her whole world just… fell apart. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, and I just keep replaying it in my head!

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2026-05-16 15:18