A teen girl in Ohio received two life sentences on Monday for the July 2022 murders of her boyfriend and another man.
Mackenzie Shirilla, of Strongsville, was found guilty earlier this month on 12 total counts, including charges of murder, aggravated vehicular homicide and drug possession for a July 2022 crash that killed her boyfriend, 20-year-old Dominic Russo, and their friend, 19-year-old Davion Flanagan.
She will be eligible for parole after 15 years. Additionally, her driver’s license will be suspended for life.
“I’m so deeply sorry,” Shirilla said in a brief statement on Monday. “I would never let this happen or do it on purpose. We are all friends and Dom was my soulmate. I wish I could take all your pain away. I’m so sorry.”
Despite what seemed like a heartfelt apology, prosecutors proved Shirilla intentionally caused the July 31, 2022 car crash with evidence showing the then-17-year old slammed on the gas pedal, speeding along a dead-end street in a business park. Shirilla then purposely slammed into a brick wall, killing Russo and Flanagan.
At her sentencing Monday, prosecutors said, “Shirilla, soon after the high-speed crash asked if authorities could just suspend her license for 10 years. This perspective shows you that Shirilla lacked any remorse following their deaths.”
During Shirilla’s weeks-long hospitalization following the crash, investigators were told she and her mother were seeking employment with a Los Angeles-based modeling agency.
Then, months after the crash and before she was formally charged, Shirilla could be seen on social media posts celebrating Halloween, and attending a concert in Cleveland’s Flats district.
However, Shirilla’s mother Natalie told the court she urged her daughter to go out for Halloween after the deadly crash, pushing her to afford herself some enjoyment in spite of the tragedy.
Natalie begged the judge for leniency and concurrent sentencing, claiming the crash was a “tragic accident”, one of which her daughter has no memory.
“I just want to say to the families that I’m broken, sad and lost,” she said.
During the trial, Dominic Russo’s brother Angelo, said, “My little brother was the most selfless person I know and I’m sorry to say this, but Shirilla is the most selfish. Dom was my best friend.”
Dominic’s mother, Christine, also said, “I feel like I lost three children in the crash, but my son is always on my mind. The pain is forever. Time does not heal this wound. Mackenzie, you’re going to prison because you did this. Be thankful you’re still alive and have a future, whatever that may be. Dominic and Davion were robbed of their futures, their hopes and their dreams.”
Flanagan was planning to go to barber school and open his own barbershop, his mother Jaime said. She called her adopted son “an amazing soul with a heart of gold” who received as much love as he gave, the kind of love that would rescue a friend in the middle of the night, no questions asked; the kind that would protect friends and honor them.
Flanagan’s little sister Davyne, adopted with him in 2012, called her big brother a role model, and a source of safety and trust. She said it was unfair that Shirilla may one day be paroled while my brother will be gone forever.
“I would like you to give Mackenzie the longest possible sentence. I have known her for three years and she’s always taken the easy way out,” Davyne said.
Shirilla’s defense attorney James McDonnell of Cleveland tried to spare the woman a life sentence on the double murder charge, arguing during trial that the crash was reckless homicide, and that no one knows what happened inside that car.
Though prosecutors claimed Shirilla has shown no remorse, McDonnell said he disagreed.
“All I can tell you is from the moment I met this young lady here, she expressed sorrow,” he said. “As an officer of the court, I feel very confident saying she has expressed true remorse.”
In giving her guilty verdicts on all 12 counts, Judge Russo earlier this month referenced video evidence of the vehicle being driven by Shirilla speeding down the street, reaching up to 100 mph just before the crash.
“This is the type of evidence you can never un-see. You can’t forget the visuals or audio of this exhibit. It is chilling and tragic,” she said earlier this month.
“The video clearly shows the purpose and intent of the defendant. She chose a course of death and destruction that day. She morphed from a responsible driver to literal hell on wheels.”
