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Mackenzie Shirilla faced scathing five-word accusation from judge when sentenced to life in prison
Home>Film & TV>Netflix
Updated 12:57 19 May 2026 GMT+1Published 16:26 14 May 2026 GMT+1

Mackenzie Shirilla faced scathing five-word accusation from judge when sentenced to life in prison

Shirilla, who was dubbed 'hell on wheels', has maintained her innocence

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

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Featured Image Credit: Netflix

Topics: Netflix, Ohio, True crime, Mackenzie Shirilla, Crime

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.

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Mackenzie Shirilla, whose actions left her boyfriend and his friend dead in 2022, was told by a judge she'd chosen 'death and destruction' as she was handed two concurrent life sentences for their murders.

The case surrounding Shirilla is detailed in Netflix's new documentary, The Crash, which features interviews with those attached to the case which shocked the world in 2022.

Shirilla had been just 17 years old, driving home from a party with her boyfriend, Dom, and his friend, Davion, when she crashed her Toyota Camry at 100mph into a brick building in Strongsville, Ohio.

Dom and Davion did not survive, and the crash left Shirilla with serious injuries, including a lacerated liver and kidney, and broken ribs.

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Shirilla was described by the judge as 'hell on wheels' (Netflix)
Shirilla was described by the judge as 'hell on wheels' (Netflix)

However, after investigating the scene and the black box that was in the car at the time of the crash, investigators came to believe Shirilla had crashed the car on purpose.

'Literal hell on wheels'

Netflix's new documentary assesses CCTV footage which appears to show the teenager turning carefully while driving prior to the crash - a move at odds with the loss of control it would take to crash a car at 100mph, with no use of the brake.

Shirilla was ultimately charged with murder, which led her to facing Judge Nancy Russo, a judge who described the teenager as 'literal hell on wheels'.

After reviewing the case, Russo accused Shirilla's actions of being five things: "Controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional and purposeful.”

"This was not reckless driving. This was murder. The video clearly shows the purpose and intent of the defendant. She chose a course of death and destruction that day," the judge said.

Shirilla's car after the crash (Cuyahoga County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney)
Shirilla's car after the crash (Cuyahoga County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney)

Explaining her sentence of two 15 years-to-life sentences, Russo added at the time: "I understand that the pain in this room wants me to impose the harshest sentence, but I don't believe that would be the appropriate sentence, because I do believe that Mackenzie won't be out in 15 years."

The crash left two families without their sons, with Dom's father, Frank Russo, sharing in the Netflix documentary the last text he received from his son, at 2:53am the day he died.

"Love you dad," the text read.

Meanwhile, Davion's father Scott admits in The Crash that he has 'the capacity for forgiveness', but he just wants 'to know the truth of what happened that night'.

Shirilla was found guilty during the bench trial in August 2023 (Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction)
Shirilla was found guilty during the bench trial in August 2023 (Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction)

"I would be eternally grateful for (Mackenzie) to actually tell us how those last few moments were," he said.

For her part, Shirilla has maintained her innocence in the case.

Where is Mackenzie Shirilla now?

Shirilla is currently serving 15 years to life in prison at the Ohio Reformatory for Women.

Shirilla and her legal team have attempted to appeal her conviction, but the 8th District Court of Appeals upheld the conviction.

“Mackenzie, going to prison because you did this, be thankful you’re still alive and have a future, whatever that may be,” Christine Russo, her boyfriend's mother, previously told the court.

“Dom and Davion were robbed of their futures, their hopes and their dreams. Mackenzie showed no mercy on Dominic, nor did she on Davion. Only God at this time can have mercy on her soul.”

The Crash is available to stream on Netflix now

  • Five important details Netflix's Mackenzie Shirilla documentary didn't show
  • Unearthed texts show Mackenzie Shirilla discussed blackouts weeks before fatal crash
  • Mackenzie Shirilla reveals surprising career plan if she's released from prison in phone call
  • Mackenzie Shirilla's prison sentence explained after former inmate reveals what she's really like

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