Newly released bodycam video shows the unexpected thing a woman asked officers as she was taken into custody following a deadly crash.
Mackenzie Shirilla was arrested after a collision that claimed the lives of her boyfriend and another passenger.
She was later found guilty of murder stemming from a 2022 incident in Strongsville, Ohio, when her Toyota Camry slammed into a brick building while travelling at around 100mph.
Shirilla survived with injuries, but her boyfriend Dominic Russo and his friend Davion Flanagan were killed.
After the case went through court, she received a sentence of 15 years to life. The case has since been revisited in a Netflix documentary titled The Crash.
In the bodycam footage, Shirilla is seen seated in the back of a vehicle when an officer instructs her to step out. He identifies himself as the detective who investigated the crash and tells her she is under arrest for “aggravated murder times two.”
As he puts her in handcuffs, she appears emotional and then asks about her jewellery, saying: “Can you please be careful taking this one off so it doesn’t break the bracelet?”
Later, while being booked at the station, she continues to focus on the same issue, asking an officer: ‘I can’t wear these?’
Detectives ultimately built their case using evidence gathered during the investigation, including data retrieved from the vehicle.
Security video later surfaced that appeared to show Shirilla — who was 17 at the time — driving normally in the moments beforehand, which prosecutors argued conflicted with claims the crash was accidental at such a high speed. Investigators also pointed to the lack of braking.
Judge Nancy Russo later characterised Shirilla’s conduct as “controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional and purposeful”.
“This was not reckless driving. This was murder,” ” Judge Russo said. “The video clearly shows the purpose and intent of the defendant. She chose a course of death and destruction that day,” the judge said.
As she delivered the sentence, Judge Russo also said: “I understand that the pain in this room wants me to impose the harshest sentence, but I don’t believe that would be the appropriate sentence, because I do believe that Mackenzie won’t be out in 15 years.”
Shirilla is serving her sentence at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. After her conviction, the 8th District Court of Appeals also turned down an appeal filed by her attorneys.
During the proceedings, Dominic Russo’s mother, Christine Russo, addressed Shirilla directly, saying: “Mackenzie, going to prison because you did this, be thankful you’re still alive and have a future, whatever that may be.”
Dominic’s father, Frank Russo, also shared what he said was the final message he received from his son — sent at 2.53am on the day of the crash — which read: “Love you dad.”