McKenzie Shirilla: The Teen Who Killed Her Boyfriend and His Friend in a Car Crash
McKenzie Shirilla is a 19-year-old woman from Strongsville, Ohio, who was convicted of murder for causing a car crash that killed her boyfriend and his friend in 2022. She was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences, with the possibility of parole after 15 years. She is currently serving her time in prison.
What Did McKenzie Shirilla Do?
On July 31, 2022, Shirilla was driving a Toyota Camry with three passengers: her boyfriend Dominic Russo, 20, his friend Davion Flanagan, 19, and another friend. They had been smoking marijuana and had magic mushrooms in the car. Around 4:30 a.m., Shirilla intentionally drove the car at 100 mph into a brick building on Highway 123 in Strongsville. The car burst into flames and became engulfed in fire.
Russo and Flanagan died at the scene from blunt force trauma and thermal injuries. Shirilla and the other passenger survived with serious injuries. Shirilla was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, and one count of drug possession.
Why Did McKenzie Shirilla Do It?
According to the prosecution, Shirilla had a turbulent and abusive relationship with Russo. She had threatened to kill him and herself several times before. She also had a history of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. She had attempted suicide twice in the past.
The prosecution argued that Shirilla planned to end her life and Russo’s life by crashing the car. They said that she chose a time and a place where there would be few witnesses and no traffic. They also said that she showed no remorse or empathy for her actions.
According to the defense, Shirilla did not intend to kill anyone. They said that she was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and lost control of the car. They said that she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her abusive relationship with Russo. They said that she loved Russo and Flanagan and was devastated by their deaths.
How Was McKenzie Shirilla Convicted?
Shirilla waived her right to a jury trial and opted for a bench trial, where the judge decides the verdict. The trial lasted for four days in August 2023. The judge heard testimonies from witnesses, experts, family members, and friends of the victims and the defendant. The judge also watched videos of Shirilla’s interrogation, where she admitted to driving the car into the building on purpose.
The judge found Shirilla guilty on all counts. The judge said that Shirilla’s actions were “controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional, and purposeful”. The judge said that Shirilla was “literal hell on wheels” who carried out a “mission of death”. The judge sentenced Shirilla to two concurrent life sentences for the murders, plus eight years for the aggravated vehicular homicides and six months for the drug possession.
How Did McKenzie Shirilla’s Family and Friends React?
Shirilla’s family and friends were shocked and saddened by her conviction and sentence. They said that they still loved her and hoped for her rehabilitation. They said that they believed that she was not in her right mind when she crashed the car. They said that they wished that she had received more help for her mental health problems.
Russo’s and Flanagan’s family and friends were relieved and satisfied by Shirilla’s conviction and sentence. They said that they wanted justice for their loved ones who were killed by Shirilla. They said that they hoped that Shirilla would never get out of prison. They said that they missed Russo and Flanagan every day.
FAQ
Q: Who is McKenzie Shirilla?
A: McKenzie Shirilla is a 19-year-old woman from Strongsville, Ohio, who was convicted of murder for causing a car crash that killed her boyfriend and his friend in 2022.
Q: How did McKenzie Shirilla kill her boyfriend and his friend?
A: McKenzie Shirilla killed her boyfriend and his friend by intentionally driving a car at 100 mph into a brick building in Strongsville.
Q: Why did McKenzie Shirilla kill her boyfriend and his friend?
A: According to the prosecution, McKenzie Shirilla killed her boyfriend and his friend because she had a turbulent and abusive relationship with him and wanted to end their lives. According to the defense, McKenzie Shirilla did not mean to kill anyone but lost control of the car due to drugs, alcohol, and PTSD.
Q: What was McKenzie Shirilla’s sentence?
A: McKenzie Shirilla was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences for the murders, plus eight years for the aggravated vehicular homicides and six months for the drug possession. She will be eligible for parole after 15 years.
