CLEVELAND — Mackenzie Shirilla has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for the deadly 2022 crash that claimed the lives of 20-year-old Dominic Russo and 19-year-old Davion Flanagan.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy Margaret Russo sentenced Shirilla to 15 years to life for both murder charges she was found guilty of, with the two sentences to be served concurrently. She will also receive credit for time already served and have her driver's license permanently suspended.
The sentencing means that Shirilla will first be eligible for parole in 15 years.
Family members of both victims addressed the court at Monday's sentencing, as did Shirilla's mother. A sobbing Shirilla read a statement apologizing to the families involved.
"To the families of Dom and Davion, I am so deeply sorry," she said. "I hope one day you can see how I'd never let this happen or do it on purpose. I wish I could remember what happened. I'm just so sorry. I'm heartbroken. I loved Dom and Davion. We were all friends and Dom was my soulmate. I wish I could take all your pain away. I am so sorry. And to my family, thank for the support and all the love you guys give. Thank you for fighting with me. I love you all so much."
Monday's sentencing comes one week after Russo found Shirilla guilty of all counts — including four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, and two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
“This was not reckless driving. This was murder," Judge Russo said moments before announcing her verdict in the bench trial on Aug. 14.
It's a case that dates back to Sunday, July 31, 2022, when Strongsville police say a crash happened at 6:15 a.m. near the intersection of Progress and Alameda. Upon their arrival, officers say they located a Toyota Camry “with severe damage and full airbag deployments.”
All three occupants inside the vehicle — including Shirilla — were unconscious, not breathing and trapped inside the vehicle. Russo (Shirilla's boyfriend) and Flanagan were both pronounced dead at the scene.
“The video clearly shows the purpose and intent of the defendant," Judge Russo said. "She chose a course of death and destruction that day.”
Shirilla was 17 years old at the time of the crash.
"She morphs from a responsible driver to literal hell on wheels as she makes her way down the street," Judge Russo continued during her verdict announcement. "Mackenzie alone made the decision to drive the car, to drive an obscure route, a route she visited a few days before, and a route not routinely taken by her. Mackenzie alone chose a time to make the drive, early in the morning, when any reasonable person would expect a few people would be nearby to witness it or offer life-saving assistance. She made these decisions despite knowing, as any reasonable person would, that her mission of death could've involved others not even in the car with her -- other people, other cars, pedestrians."
Judge Russo said Shirilla had "a mission" and "executed it with precision."
"Mackenzie alone decided to push the pedal to the floor and demand the ultimate speed of that vehicle to 92 mph. She alone decided what was to be. Mackenzie decided death was the ultimate goal that day, and she alone made that decision for Dominic and Davion."
The prosecution had said Shirilla crashed the car to end her toxic and tumultuous relationship with Russo.
"There is no doubt that this happened because of the relationship with Dominic and the defendant’s intent was clearly to end that, and she took everybody that was in the car with her," said Tim Troup of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.
At Monday's sentencing, family members of the victims asked the judge for consecutive sentences, while the prosecution pointed to Shirilla's social media posts after the accident as evidence that she had shown a lack of remorse for her actions. Shirilla's mother, Nathalie, apologized to the victims' families for the situation they were in, but also defended herself against accusations that she was more concerned with the perception on social media than the deaths of the two victims.
"Be thankful that you're still alive and have a future, whatever that may be," Dominic Russo's mother Christine said to Mackenzie. "Dom and Davion were robbed of their futures, their hopes, and their dreams."
Russo said that her toughest decision in the sentencing came down to whether or not to have the two 15-year sentences run consecutively or concurrently. While she ultimately opted to have them run concurrently, she also said that she believes there's a "very good likelihood" Shirilla will spend the rest of her life in prison.
"I pray for Mackenzie, and I want Mackenzie to come out a good person and really do some positive things in this world," Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley told reporters after the proceedings. "And it's not too late. She's got a long life ahead of her. God only knows when she's going to get out, but I hope she does change."
Shirilla's case has captured widespread attention with news of her guilty verdict appearing on various national sites, including People.com and The Daily Beast. Shirilla's mother told 3 News they plan to file an appeal, and she asserted her daughter is 100% innocent of murder and would never intentionally kill the love of her life.
