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Just three years into her life sentence, Mackenzie Shirilla, the Ohio woman convicted of killing two friends in a high-speed car crash, has expressed growing frustration with prison life.
The new Netflix true crime documentary, The Crash, examines the case of Shirilla, who at 17 intentionally crashed her vehicle, resulting in the deaths of her then-boyfriend Dominic Russo and his friend Davion Flanagan. Now 21 and incarcerated at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, Shirilla’s prison phone calls have surfaced, revealing her candid-and at times, dismissive-remarks about her situation.
In one recently uncovered call with her mother, Natalie, Shirilla complained about the slow passage of time behind bars, limited access to commissary items, and having only a single book to occupy herself. When her mother suggested finding a job within the prison, Shirilla responded that inmates with charges like hers aren’t allowed to work.
Shirilla was convicted in August 2022 after crashing her car into a brick wall in Strongsville, Ohio, at speeds exceeding 100 mph. The crash claimed the lives of Dominic and Davion.
While her defense maintained that a medical blackout caused the crash, prosecutors argued she deliberately caused the accident to end a turbulent relationship with her boyfriend. She was ultimately found guilty of two counts of murder and sentenced to 15 years to life, with no parole eligibility before serving 15 years.
During the trial, prosecutors criticized Shirilla for showing little remorse. Although she did not testify in court, she later issued a written statement to the victims’ families expressing sorrow and insisting she did not intend harm. In the documentary, Shirilla reiterates her lack of intent and expresses remorse for the tragedy, stating she hopes to share her perspective and assert that she is not “a monster.”
The Crash is now streaming on Netflix, offering viewers an in-depth look at this tragic case and its aftermath.