Who Is Mackenzie Shirilla? Wiki, Biography, Age, Parents, Sister, Boyfriend & Full Story

Mackenzie Shirilla is a 19-year-old woman from Ohio who was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for killing her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and his friend, Davion Flanagan, by deliberately crashing her car into a wall at 100 mph in July 2022. She was found guilty of 12 counts, including four counts of murder, in August 2023. Her case has attracted national attention and sparked debates about the nature of her relationship with Russo, her mental state, and the justice system.

Early Life and Family

Mackenzie Shirilla was born in 2004 to Jennifer and Michael Shirilla. She has a younger sister named Madison. She grew up in Strongsville, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. She attended Strongsville High School, where she met Dominic Russo, who became her boyfriend.

She also befriended Davion Flanagan, who was Russo’s friend and classmate. According to her mother, Shirilla was a good student who enjoyed art, music, and animals. She also loved traveling and visited places like Florida, New York, and California with her family and friends.

Mackenzie Shirilla Wiki/Bio

NameMackenzie Shirilla
Date of Birth2004
Age19 years old
Place of BirthOhio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityWhite
OccupationStudent
BoyfriendDominic Russo (deceased)
ParentsJennifer and Michael Shirilla
SisterMadison Shirilla
Instagrammackenzieshirilla
Homepagenewsunzip.com

Relationship with Dominic Russo

Mackenzie and Dominic Russo had been dating for about three or four years before the fatal crash. They lived together at Russo’s home, where Shirilla was welcomed by his family. Russo, who was 20 years old at the time of his death, was a graduate of Strongsville High School and a beloved son, brother, and friend to many. He had a passion for cars and motorcycles and worked as a mechanic at a local dealership. He also had plans to attend college and pursue a career in engineering.

However, according to prosecutors and witnesses, Shirilla and Russo had a toxic and turbulent relationship that was marked by frequent fights, breakups, and threats. Shirilla was allegedly abusive and controlling toward Russo, and often accused him of cheating on her. She also reportedly threatened to harm herself or him on several occasions, including by crashing her car with him in it. Russo’s mother and brother testified in court that they tried to intervene and help Russo end the relationship, but he was afraid of losing Shirilla and hoped she would change.

The Car Crash & Full Story

On July 31, 2022, around 5:30 a.m., Shirilla drove her Toyota Camry into the Plidco Building in Strongsville, Ohio, at a speed of 100 mph, without applying the brakes. She had two passengers in the car: Dominic Russo, who was sitting in the front seat, and Davion Flanagan, who was sitting in the back seat. Both Russo and Flanagan were pronounced dead at the scene, while Shirilla, who was found unconscious, was hospitalized. All three had been smoking marijuana and police also recovered magic mushrooms from the car.

The security video of the crash, which was played in court, showed that Shirilla intentionally drove on a street and into a building that she did not normally use, but had visited days before. A certified forensic mechanic testified that the car’s event data recorder showed that moments before the crash, the accelerator pedal was being pushed down at full capacity with no application of the brake. Prosecutors argued that Shirilla had a motive to kill Russo and end their relationship and that Flanagan was an innocent victim who got in the wrong car seat.

Parents & Siblings

Mackenzie Shirilla’s parents are Natalie Shirilla and John Steven Shirilla. They live in Strongsville, Ohio, where they raised Mackenzie and her sister. Natalie Shirilla is a homemaker, while John Steven Shirilla is a designer and an art teacher. He graduated from Ohio University in 1990 with a BFA in Graphic Design.

He worked as an art director at WUAB and WBNS TV 10 in Cleveland and Columbus, respectively, before securing a job as a marketing designer at WKYC-TV 3. He was laid off from the media outlet and became an art teacher at Mary Queen of Peace School.

Mackenzie has one younger sister named Danielle Shirilla. She is also a student at Strongsville High School. She has not commented on her sister’s case publicly. She has a private Instagram account, where she posts pictures of herself, her friends, and her family.

Physical Stats

WeightIn Kilograms: 58 kg
In Pounds: 128 lbs
HeightIn Feet Inches: 5′ 6″
In Meters: 1.67 m
In Centimetres: 167 cm
Hair ColorBlonde.
Eye ColorBlue.
Shoe Size6 US.

The Trial and the Sentencing

Shirilla was arrested and charged with murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, felonious assault, drug possession, and possession of criminal tools. She was tried as an adult in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, where she waived her right to a jury trial and opted for a bench trial before Judge Nancy Margaret Russo, who is not related to Dominic Russo. The trial lasted for four days, from August 9 to August 12, 2023, and featured testimonies from witnesses, experts, and family members of the victims. Shirilla did not testify in her defense.

On August 16, 2023, Judge Russo delivered her verdict, finding Shirilla guilty on all 12 counts. She said that Shirilla was “literal hell on wheels” and that she had “a mission and she executed it with precision.” She also said that the crash was not an accident, but a murder. She rejected the defense’s argument that Shirilla was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety and that she had no memory of what happened. She said that Shirilla showed no remorse or empathy for her actions, and that she continued to post on social media and attend events after the crash.

On August 21, 2023, Judge Russo sentenced Shirilla to 15 years to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 32 years. She also suspended her driver’s license for life. She said that she understood the pain of the victims’ families, who wanted her to impose the harshest sentence, but she also considered Shirilla’s age and background. She said that she believed that Shirilla would not be out in 15 years and that she hoped she would use her time in prison to reflect and rehabilitate.

Net Worth and Income Sources

There is no proper information available about her exact net worth. As per an estimate, her net worth is around $200K (approx.).

Reactions and Controversies

The verdict and the sentencing of Mackenzie Shirilla have elicited mixed reactions from the public and the media. Some have expressed sympathy and compassion for Shirilla, arguing that she was a troubled teenager who needed help and guidance, not punishment. They have also questioned the fairness and effectiveness of the justice system, which tried her as an adult and gave her a harsh sentence. They have also pointed out the possible role of mental illness, substance abuse, and trauma in her behavior, and the need for more awareness and prevention of domestic violence.

Others have expressed anger and disgust for Shirilla, arguing that she was a cold-blooded killer who deserved no mercy or leniency. They have also praised the judge and the prosecutors for delivering justice and holding her accountable for her actions. They have also expressed solidarity and support for the families and friends of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan, who were robbed of their lives and futures. They have also called for more education and enforcement of safe driving and responsible drug use.

Mackenzie Shirilla’s case has also sparked debates about the nature and impact of social media, especially TikTok, where she posted videos of herself at a concert and celebrating Halloween after the crash. Prosecutors used these videos as evidence of her lack of remorse and empathy, while her mother said that these were the only times she did something for herself, and that she had been crying in her room next to a shrine she had made of Russo for months. Some have criticized Shirilla for being insensitive and narcissistic, while others have defended her for being a normal teenager who used social media as a coping mechanism.

Trivia

  • Shirilla’s trial was covered by several local and national media outlets, such as NBC News, CBS News, New York Post, and Sky News.
  • Mackenzie’s case has been compared to other cases of teenage girls who killed their boyfriends, such as Michelle Carter, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for encouraging her boyfriend to commit suicide, and Jodi Arias, who was convicted of first-degree murder for stabbing and shooting her boyfriend.
  • Shirilla’s case has also been featured on some true crime blogs and podcasts, such as True Crime Society and Crime Junkie, where the details and the motives of the crash have been discussed and analyzed.
  • Shirilla’s case has also generated a lot of online comments and discussions, especially on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and TikTok, where people have expressed their opinions and emotions about the case.
  • His case has also raised some legal and ethical questions, such as the age of criminal responsibility, the definition and criteria of murder, the role and influence of mental health and substance abuse, the prevention and intervention of domestic violence, and the use and regulation of social media.

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