Newly resurfaced texts Dominic Russo sent to Mackenzie Shirilla just weeks before the fatal Strongsville crash are being described as especially haunting in light of what happened next.
Shirilla was convicted in 2023 after a Toyota Camry slammed into a brick wall at roughly 100mph, killing her 20-year-old boyfriend Russo and their friend Davion Flanagan, 19.
Prosecutors argued the collision in Strongsville in July 2022 was no accident, pointing to evidence that the crash occurred as Shirilla and Russo’s relationship was deteriorating.
Charged with murder, Shirilla was ultimately sentenced by Judge Nancy Russo, who memorably characterized the teen as “literal hell on wheels”.
Now 21, Shirilla is serving two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life, and is pursuing a second appeal.
Reports and court records indicate the couple had broken up shortly before the crash, with Russo trying to end the relationship amid allegations of persistent conflict and threats.
In one text sent about a month before the wreck and later obtained by TMZ, Russo wrote: “Kenzie u know i love u but i don’t think we should be together at this point there isn’t very much time on earth yaknow.”
The message was read by Shirilla on June 2, 2022, and has since been widely quoted because of the tragedy that followed.
Russo continued: “I dont want u to think im abandoning u… especially with the threats. We should just breakup so we can both find happiness somewhere else.”
Not long after, Russo and Flanagan were killed in the crash.
Prosecutors said onboard data indicated there was no braking before impact and that the accelerator was being pressed. Even so, Shirilla later left emotional messages on Russo’s online obituary in August 2022, writing about missing his smile and laugh and asking him to “please wait for me”.
TMZ also reported additional texts Shirilla allegedly sent earlier in the relationship, which it described as erratic.
In those messages, Shirilla appeared highly emotional, including telling Russo she was “gonna kill someone”.
She also wrote: “I just want to bang my head on the wall till I’m dead”, along with “THIS IS WHY I J WANNA F***ING KMS”.
Other texts referenced topics such as pregnancy concerns, STD testing, health issues related to smoking, disliking her home environment, depression, and complaints about how Russo treated her.
Shirilla was arrested four months after the crash and later received two concurrent 15-years-to-life sentences.
At sentencing, the court rejected the idea the collision was accidental, describing the crash as intentional and planned.
Since the conviction, former inmates have claimed Shirilla drew attention while incarcerated—alleging a nickname, “Shirilla the Killa,” circulated and that she was known for looking meticulously put together.
She is currently imprisoned at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, where she continues to serve her sentence.
Her conviction has already survived one appeal, with the 8th District Court of Appeals leaving the verdict intact.
In court, Russo’s mother Christine addressed Shirilla directly: “Mackenzie, going to prison because you did this, be thankful you’re still alive and have a future, whatever that may be,”
She continued: “Dom and Davion were robbed of their futures, their hopes and their dreams. Mackenzie showed no mercy on Dominic, nor did she on Davion. Only God at this time can have mercy on her soul.”
July 17 2022 – Mackenzie Shirilla and her boyfriend Dominic Russo get into an argument. A friend overhears Shirilla tell him: “I will crash this car right now.”
July 31 2022 – Shirilla is driving Russo, 20, and their friend Davion Flanagan, 19, from Russo’s home to a friend’s house. At around 5.30am, she crashes the car into a Plidco Building in Strongsville, Ohio, travelling at 100mph without braking. Police arrive on the scene 45 minutes later. Russo and Flanagan are pronounced dead and Shirilla is transported to MetroHealth Medical Center.
August 2022 – 200 people attend a vigil for Russo and Flanagan. Shirilla remains in critical condition. When a detective visits her in hospital, she is said to be speaking a ‘unique language’ similar to pig Latin.
October 2022 – Shirilla attends a Halloween party wearing fancy dress which resembles a corpse, which Davion’s father considers in very poor taste. He says in Netflix’s The Crash: “Dressing up as corpses three months after she killed two people, it just sickened us to the very core.”
November 4 2022 – Shirilla is arrested and faces 18 charges, including two counts of aggravated murder. She also faces charges for allegedly breaking into the Columbia Church of God in Columbia Station days before the crash, along with drug trafficking and possession charges.
August 7 2023 – Shirilla’s trial begins. Her defence team argue she may have passed out at the time of the crash due to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), but no medical records or expert testimony confirms the diagnosis.
August 14 2023 – Shirilla is found guilty on all counts. Judge Nancy Margaret Russo calls her ‘hell on wheels’, and the court concludes she intetionally crashed the car in a premeditated act.
August 23 2023 – Shirilla is sentenced to two concurrent 15 years to life sentences. Her legal team later lose an appeal and relief petition. She remains incarcerated in Ohio Refamatory for Women.
May 22 2025 – Mackenzie’s parents insist that she’s innocent. Her father Steve tells WKYC: “Show me one piece of evidence – one – that says she did this on purpose. Show it to me, then she’s right where she belongs and she’s guilty of it. But there isn’t any.” Her mother Natalie claims there are texts in which Shirilla says Russo was ‘trying to end her life’.
May 15 2026 – Netflix’s The Crash premieres. In it, Shirilla insists she is ‘not a murderer’ and has no memory of the crash, continuing to blame POTS.
May 18 2026 – Steve Shirilla is placed on administrative leave from his job as an art and digital media teacher at Mary Queen of Peace School in Cleveland following allegations he had ‘demonstrated poor judgement’. Viewers of Netflix’s documentary objected to his attitude towards Shirilla’s marijuana use and his dismissal of claims she told a classmate to end their life.