Mackenzie Shirilla Texted About Experiencing 'Blackouts' Weeks Before Crash
TMZ • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Mackenzie Shirilla reported experiencing frequent blackouts weeks before the fatal 2022 high-speed crash that killed her boyfriend Dominic Russo and friend Davion Flanagan, according to text messages obtained by TMZ.
- The texts reveal Shirilla expressing fear that her blackouts were worsening, while Russo suggested possible vitamin deficiency affecting her brain function before their conversation escalated into an argument.
- Prosecutors argued Shirilla intentionally crashed the car at around 100 MPH without braking, leading to the instant deaths of Russo and Flanagan, with surveillance and phone data serving as key evidence.
- The defense disputed the claim that the crash was planned, citing Shirilla's mother's statement that she suffered from POTS, a disorder causing rapid heart rate and dizziness, potentially explaining her blackouts.
- Shirilla was convicted of murder and sentenced to two concurrent life sentences, with eligibility for parole in 2037; the newly revealed texts add complexity to understanding the events leading up to the crash.