Here’s What Mackenzie Shirilla Texted Boyfriend’s Mom After Crash, and Why She Wanted to Be 'Hypnotized'

Key Points:

• Mackenzie Shirilla, 21, was convicted of murder and aggravated vehicular homicide for a July 2022 crash in Strongsville, Ohio, that killed her boyfriend Dominic Russo, 20, and friend Davion Flanagan, 19, while she was driving at around 100 mph.
• Initially treated as an accident, prosecutors argued the crash was a failed murder-suicide attempt linked to a toxic relationship between Shirilla and Russo, with evidence including threats Shirilla allegedly made to crash the car with Russo inside.
• Shirilla claimed she had no memory of the crash and considered hypnosis to recover it, attributing memory loss to trauma; she also cited passing out due to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), though no medical proof was presented at trial.
• Prosecutors highlighted car data showing Shirilla floored the gas pedal without braking before the crash, with surveillance footage showing normal driving before a sudden speed increase; no mechanical failure was found.
• Shirilla is serving two concurrent 15 years to life sentences at the Ohio Reformatory for Women and will be eligible for parole after 15 years.