Convicted killer Mackenzie Shirilla now holds a prison job as she serves a life sentence for a crash that killed two individuals in 2022. Ohio prison officials confirmed that Shirilla is working as a food service worker at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. This detail was shared by Tara Nickle, a correction warden assistant and public information officer for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. However, further information about her role was not provided due to Ohio public-records exemptions.
The fatal crash has gained renewed attention following its feature on Netflix’s “The Crash.” Prosecutors described the incident as a premeditated act by Shirilla, calling her “hell on wheels.” The tragic event occurred in Strongsville, Ohio, where Shirilla, then 17, drove her Toyota Camry into a brick building, resulting in the deaths of her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and their friend, Davion Flanagan.
According to police records, officers arrived at the scene around 6:15 a.m. on July 31, 2022. Shirilla was extricated from the driver’s seat and airlifted to MetroHealth Medical Center, while Russo and Flanagan were declared dead at the site. Data from Life360 indicated the car was moving at 90 mph in a 35 mph zone, and Event Data Recorder information revealed that the accelerator was fully engaged with no braking before the crash.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner initially classified the deaths as accidental but later changed the manner of death to homicide upon police request. This decision came after evidence suggested the crash was intentional.
During her trial, prosecutors argued that Shirilla aimed to end her relationship with Russo by causing the crash, with Flanagan as an unintended victim. Her case returned to the spotlight through the Netflix series.
Following the series, Shirilla’s legal team has pursued an appeal with the Ohio Supreme Court. Her attorneys argue that trial lawyers failed to explore evidence that Shirilla suffered from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) which might have caused her to lose consciousness. This condition was not thoroughly addressed in court, although Shirilla and her family reportedly informed her legal team about it. Shirilla’s lawyers assert that expert testimony should have been sought to explain her failure to brake before the crash.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, led by Michael O’Malley, maintains that Shirilla is guilty of murder.