If you have been watching Netflix lately you may have seen a documentary called The Crash. The Crash tells the story of a teenager named Mackenzie Shirilla from Strongsville, Ohio. The case shocked the country in 2022 and is still making headlines in 2026.
On the morning of July 31 2022 a car traveling 100 miles per hour crashed into the side of a brick building in Strongsville, Ohio killing both passengers inside. The driver was 17-year- Mackenzie Shirilla, who was taking her boyfriend Dom Russo and their friend Davion Flanagan home from a high school graduation gathering when the crash occurred.
What first looked like an accident quickly turned into a murder investigation. This article covers everything you need to know. From who Mackenzie Shirilla to her trial conviction, failed appeals and where Mackenzie Shirilla is right now.
Who Is Mackenzie Shirilla?
Mackenzie Shirilla is a woman from Strongsville, Ohio who became the center of a national true crime case after a deadly car crash in the summer of 2022. At the time of the crash, Mackenzie Shirilla Age was seventeen years old.
Had been in a relationship with Dom Russo, 20 for roughly four years. The two had recently moved in together after Mackenzie Shirilla graduated from Strongsville High School.
By all accounts their relationship was rocky and intense. Friends and family described the romance as volatile. A friend overheard an argument between the two in July 2022 where Mackenzie Shirilla allegedly threatened to crash the car she was driving with both of them in it.
Before the crash Mackenzie Shirilla was an Ohio teenager. Active on social media close with friends and living with her boyfriend after graduating high school. After July 31 2022 Mackenzie Shirillas life changed forever.
What Happened on July 31 2022?
This is the important part of the story.
On the morning of July 31 2022 Mackenzie Shirilla was driving Dom Russo and their friend Davion Flanagan home from a high school graduation gathering when her car struck the side of a building at speed.
Both Dom Russo and Davion Flanagan were pronounced dead at the scene while Mackenzie Shirilla was seriously injured and taken to the hospital.
Police and investigators arrived quickly. What they found raised questions. The car had not drifted off the road by accident. It had accelerated at speed in a controlled direction before hitting the building.
Damning CCTV footage of the seconds before the incident was found by investigators. A digital scale and psilocybin mushrooms were also found by authorities in the wreckage, raising questions regarding Mackenzie Shirilla conduct that evening.
Mackenzie Shirillas defense team would later argue she had a condition called POTS. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. That could cause sudden blackouts.
As Mackenzie Shirilla herself says in the Netflix documentary “With POTS you just black out it can happen fast it comes out of nowhere.” However the prosecution countered that the controlled turns the car made and sustained acceleration to 100 miles per hour required intense engagement, which would have been impossible during a medical blackout event.
The Trial-What the Jury (and Judge) Decided
Mackenzie Shirilla did not face a jury. She chose a bench trial meaning a judge alone decided her fate. Mackenzie Shirilla, who was 17 at the time of the wreck but criminally tried as an adult was found guilty of all counts, including four counts of murder four two counts of gross vehicular homicide and one count of felonious attack.
The judge’s comments during the punishment process made national headlines. Watching the crash footage, Judge Russo remarked, “She shifts from a driver to genuine hell on wheels as she makes her way down the street.” “She was on a mission.
She did it with perfection. Mackenzie Shirilla received a life punishment with the possibility of release after 15 years.
A family friends provided an important piece of evidence. In his account, a friend named Christopher Martin claimed to have heard Dom Russo and Mackenzie Shirilla fighting in July 2022 and to have heard Mackenzie Shirilla declare, “I am going to smash this car now.” During cross-examination, Martin stated that he did not notify the police of what happened at the time.
During sentencing, Mackenzie Shirilla’s media was also used by the defense.
All of Mackenzie Shirillas Appeals- And Why They Failed
After her conviction Mackenzie Shirillas legal team tried times to get her a new trial. Every single attempt has failed. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Mackenzie Shirillas conviction in September 2024. In April 2025 the Supreme Court of Ohio declined to take up the matter.
Then came a filing that became controversial because of a calendar error. Under Ohio law defendants have 365 days from the date the trial transcript is filed in their appeal to submit a post-conviction relief petition.
In Mackenzie Shirillas case that deadline was October 23 2024.. Her original petition was filed on October 24. The state argues that this technical error, caused by a leap year miscalculation renders the defense petition legally barred under Ohio law.
In March 2026 the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld its 2024 ruling to deny Mackenzie Shirillas request for a trial. Her father remains vocal about his belief in her innocence. “Show me one piece of evidence. One. also she this on purpose. Show it to me ” Steve Shirilla told WKYC in 2025.
Netflix “The Crashâ. What the Documentary Reveals
In May 2026 Netflix released a documentary called The Crash that brought this story to an audience. The documentary features interviews with the families of all three people involved in the crash: Mackenzie Shirillas parents, Natalie and Steve Shirilla; Dom Russos father, Frank and sister, Christine; plus Davion Flanagans father, Scott and sister Davyne.
The most talked-about part of the film is something that had never happened before. Mackenzie Shirilla herself sits down on camera for the time. She had never spoken to police. She never testified at her trial.
In the years since a judge found her guilty she had never publicly addressed what happened that night. Until now.
In her interview Mackenzie Shirilla said, “I’m not saying I’m innocent. I was a driver of a tragedy. I’m not a murderer ” and added that “there was no intent whatsoever.” The documentary has been praised for avoiding sensationalism while still sparking debate about intent, social media and justice.
Where Is Mackenzie Shirilla Now in 2026?
As of 2026 Mackenzie Shirilla is serving her sentence at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio. Her first parole hearing is scheduled for 2038, when she will be 33 years old. Mackenzie Shirillas family continues to fight.
The documentary’s producer expressed confidence that the Shirilla family would keep pushing, saying, “We know that the Shirillas will use every recourse to them.”
A new appeal was reportedly filed in April 2026 though nothing new has reached a courtroom as of the time of this writing.
Every legal avenue tried far has hit a wall and Mackenzie Shirilla remains behind bars with her earliest chance of freedom more than a decade away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mackenzie Shirilla
Q: Who is Mackenzie Shirilla?
Mackenzie Shirilla is a woman from Strongsville, Ohio who was convicted of murder in 2023 after a 2022 car crash that killed her boyfriend Dom Russo and their friend Davion Flanagan.
Q: What did Mackenzie Shirilla do?
She was convicted of 12 felony charges after it was determined that she intentionally crashed her car and killed Dom Russo and Davion Flanagan. She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years.
Q: Where is Mackenzie Shirilla now?
Mackenzie Shirilla is currently incarcerated at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio. She will be eligible for parole in 2037.
Q: Is The Crash on Netflix a story?
Yes. The Crash is based on the real-life case of Mackenzie Shirilla, a 17-year-old from Strongsville, Ohio who was convicted of murder in 2023.
Q: Did Mackenzie Shirilla win her appeal?
No. Mackenzie Shirilla appealed her case in September 2024. The conviction was upheld. In February 2025 Mackenzie Shirillas legal team filed for appeal in the Ohio Supreme Court. In April it declined to hear the case.
Q: What is POTS. Why does it matter in this case?
POTS stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Mackenzie Shirillas defense argued she blacked out due to this condition before the crash. The prosecution countered that the sustained acceleration and controlled driving made a medical blackout impossible.
Q: What was Mackenzie Shirillas sentence?
She is currently serving a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
Q: When does Mackenzie become eligible, for parole?
Shirilla will have her parole hearing in either 2037 or 2038. This depends on what you read. At that time Mackenzie Shirilla will be in her 30s.
Final Words
The story of Mackenzie Shirilla is a true crime case that people talk about a lot. Shirilla was a driver when this happened. Two young men died. There was a trial. No jury was used. Mackenzie Shirilla was found guilty. This decision has not been changed, even after many appeals. Now there is a Netflix documentary where Mackenzie Shirilla tells her side of the story for the time.
You can think about what happened and decide if you believe the crash was an accident or something worse. The facts are simple: Shirilla is, in prison. All of her appeals have failed. Her family is still trying to help her. You can watch The Crash on Netflix. Make up your own mind about Mackenzie Shirilla and what happened.