New court documents have revealed disturbing details in the deadly Ohio crash case involving Mackenzie Shirilla, the young woman convicted of intentionally crashing her car and killing her boyfriend and his friend in 2022. According to the documents, Shirilla asked for photos of herself and her boyfriend to be placed inside his casket after the fatal crash.
Deadly Ohio Crash Killed Two Young Men
The crash happened on July 31, 2022, in Strongsville, Ohio. Prosecutors said Shirilla, who was 17 years old at the time, deliberately drove her car into a brick wall at nearly 100 mph.
The crash killed:
- Dominic Russo, 20
- Davion Flanagan, 19
Both men died at the scene, while Shirilla survived with multiple injuries and was taken to a hospital.
Prosecutors Said Crash Was Intentional
During Shirilla’s 2023 bench trial, prosecutors argued the crash was carefully planned and not an accident.
Investigators said evidence showed:
| Key Evidence | Details |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed | Nearly 100 mph before impact |
| Gas Pedal | Fully pressed seconds before crash |
| Brake Usage | No braking detected |
| Relationship Issues | Couple reportedly had a troubled relationship |
Prosecutors claimed Shirilla intended to kill Dominic Russo because their relationship had become strained and unstable.
Request for Photos Inside Boyfriend’s Casket
According to court documents later obtained by media outlets, Shirilla contacted Dominic Russo’s brother shortly after the crash.
She reportedly asked him to collect photos of her and Dominic from his room so she could place them in his casket “so he can be with me forever.”
The request was later included in a 2024 Ohio Court of Appeals opinion that upheld her conviction.
Relationship Was Reportedly Troubled
Court records showed that Dominic Russo’s family and friends believed the relationship between him and Shirilla had become unhealthy.
His brother reportedly told police that the couple had broken up multiple times during their four-year relationship.
According to investigators, Dominic had been considering ending the relationship permanently before the deadly crash happened.
Shirilla Publicly Mourned Victim After Crash
In the days following the crash, Shirilla publicly shared emotional tributes to Dominic Russo online.
She reportedly wrote that he was “the last person to deserve this” and posted photos of the couple on his obituary page.
The recent Netflix documentary The Crash also showed clips of Shirilla crying at Russo’s grave.
Defense Claimed Medical Emergency Caused Crash
Shirilla and her parents have consistently denied that the crash was intentional.
Her defense team argued that she suffered a medical emergency linked to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which they claimed caused her to black out while driving.
However, the court rejected that argument after reviewing the evidence presented during trial.
Serving Life Sentence After Conviction
Shirilla, now 21, was convicted on all 12 felony charges against her, including:
- Murder
- Aggravated vehicular homicide
- Felonious assault
She received two concurrent life sentences and will become eligible for parole in 2037.
Prosecutors also pointed to social media activity after the crash, including a Halloween TikTok video, arguing it showed a lack of remorse.
Her appeals have since been denied.
