New court documents and text messages have resurfaced following the release of the Netflix documentary The Crash, bringing fresh attention to the case of Mackenzie Shirilla. The young Ohio woman is currently serving a prison sentence for deliberately driving her car into a brick wall at nearly 100 miles per hour, a crash that killed her boyfriend and his friend. The newly spotlighted messages show Shirilla accusing her boyfriend of trying to hurt her just weeks before the deadly incident.
The Chilling Accusation Before the Crash
Law enforcement sources have released text exchanges between Mackenzie Shirilla and her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, that paint a picture of a very troubled relationship. In the weeks leading up to the crash on July 31, 2022, Shirilla sent a shocking message to Russo accusing him of endangering her life.
According to the messages obtained by law enforcement and verified by court records, the argument started over her reckless driving. Shirilla wrote to Russo, “Do you think I would have my car started with you in it knowing that you just tried to kill me.” The accusation came during a time when investigators say the couple was fighting frequently.
Beyond the accusation, the texts also show Shirilla making very dark statements about her mental state. She reportedly wrote, “I’m gonna kill someone,” “I just want to bang my head on the wall till I’m dead,” and “I f**king hate myself.” Prosecutors later used these messages to show that *Shirilla* had violent thoughts and intentions before the crash.
Dominic Russo’s Desperate Attempts to Leave the Relationship
While Shirilla sent angry and threatening messages, the texts from Dominic Russo show a young man trying to gently end a toxic relationship. He appeared to be aware of the danger in their dynamic.
In one message to Shirilla, Russo wrote, “Kenzie u know i love u but i dont think we should be together at this point there isnt very much time on earth yaknow.” He added, “I dont want u to think im abandoning u i wish it could work but i dont think its going to at this point especially with the threats.” He suggested they break up so they could both find happiness elsewhere. Prosecutors argued that Shirilla could not accept the end of the relationship, which motivated her to crash the car on purpose.
The Deadly Crash and Immediate Aftermath
On July 31, 2022, a then 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla was behind the wheel of her Toyota Camry. In the car with her were Dominic Russo, 20, and their friend Davion Flanagan, 19. Shirilla drove the car into a brick warehouse in Strongsville, Ohio, at nearly 100 miles per hour.
The crash killed Russo and Flanagan instantly. Shirilla was found unconscious and was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Investigators looked at the car’s black box and found that the gas pedal was pressed all the way down and there was no braking in the final seconds before the impact.
After the wreck, Shirilla sent a text to Russo’s mother. She wrote, “I remember turning onto the street, and then my vision fades to black. It really kills me not to be able to remember anything.” She claimed she had a blackout due to a medical condition called POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). However, a family friend testified in court that they heard Shirilla say, “I’m going to wreck this car right now” weeks before the crash.
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Conviction and Life Behind Bars
In August 2023, Judge Nancy Margaret Russo found Mackenzie Shirilla guilty on all 12 charges, including murder. The judge called her “literal hell on wheels” during the sentencing. Shirilla received two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life in prison. She will not be eligible for parole until 2037.
Shirilla is currently held at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. Her appeals have all been denied. A former inmate who spent time with Shirilla told the New York Post that Shirilla acted like a celebrity in prison. “She walked around like she was this famous person within prison,” the former inmate said. “She definitely carried herself like she was the Regina George of prison.” Another ex-girlfriend of Shirilla revealed that people inside called her “Shirilla the Killa.”
The Netflix documentary The Crash, released on May 15, 2026, has brought these disturbing details back into the public eye, sparking new conversations about the case online.
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