Mackenzie Shirilla, the Ohio teenage who was given the infamous name “hell on wheels” was sentenced to two concurrent 15 years-to-life sentences on Monday, 14th August.
Shirilla was convicted on twelve counts including, four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault and two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. She was found guilty of all counts in a Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. She is eligible for parole after 15 years behind bars. Additionally, her driver’s license will be suspended for life.
Shirilla, 19, was convicted of intentionally driving her Toyota Camry at 100 mph without braking into a brick building in the Cleveland suburb of Strongsville killing her boyfriend (Dominic Russo) and his friend (Davion Flanagan) on July 31st , 2022. Russo, 20, and Flanagan, 19, were pronounced dead at the scene when police arrived. Shirilla, who was 17 at the time, was hospitalized.
Judge’s Remarks
Judge’s Remarks Judge Nancy Margaret Russo, who has no relation to the victim, condemned Shirilla’s actions. She noted:
“She had a mission, and she executed it with precision. The mission was death.”
Judge Russo stated in her verdict remarks that Shirilla intentionally drove at an hour when not many people would be around and on a path she didn’t routinely use but had visited days before the tragic incident.
The prosecution said Shirilla crashed the car to end her toxic and tumultuous relationship with Russo.
Reactions From The Victims’ Families
Some of the victims’ relatives were allowed to speak before the verdict was given. Both families had suffered a huge loss. Reactions of the victims’ family members to the trial varied. Some thought that Shirilla should receive the harshest verdict and spend the rest of her life in prison while others felt that her life shouldn’t also be ruined.
Flanagan’s sister, Davyne Flanagan, said: “I feel stuck. I feel like I can’t move forward. I feel lost… I would like you to give Mackenzie the longest possible sentence. I’ve known her for about three years, and she’s always taking the easy way out.”
“I feel stuck. I feel like I can’t move forward. I feel lost… I would like you to give Mackenzie the longest possible sentence. I’ve known her for about three years, and she’s always taking the easy way out.”
Dominic Russo’s father, Frank Russo said that he didn’t want Shirilla to spend her life in jail despite her actions. “It’s horrible for everybody. Yeah, I lost my son, it’s harder on our family, but I don’t want the rest of her life ruined, too. It isn’t going to make me feel any better,” he said.
“Mackenzie, going to prison because you did this, be thankful you’re still alive and have a future, whatever that may be,” said Dominic’s mother, Christine Russo.