Additional Coverage:
- The Crash’s Mackenzie Shirilla wants Kim Kardashian to be her lawyer – but there’s a catch (themirror.com)
Mackenzie Shirilla, convicted of the fatal crash that killed her boyfriend and a friend, has expressed a surprising wish: she wants Kim Kardashian to be her lawyer.
The 21-year-old, who is featured in a new Netflix documentary about the tragic car accident turned murder case, discussed Kardashian during a recent jail phone call from the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center in Ohio. The conversation, obtained by PEOPLE, was with an unidentified individual and included references to media coverage surrounding Shirilla’s case, including an interview with her deceased boyfriend’s father.
During the call, Shirilla suggested that Kim Kardashian might have seen the media attention surrounding her case. “Well maybe Kim Kardashian’s seen,” she said.
The other person agreed, noting that the widespread publicity might be a good thing if it catches Kardashian’s attention. Shirilla then openly stated, “I want Kim Kardashian to be my lawyer,” expressing nervousness and hope.
The conversation also touched on Kardashian’s well-known efforts in criminal justice reform. The person on the call remarked that Kardashian “works hard” to help innocent people get out of jail, to which Shirilla enthusiastically responded, “Tell her I buy all her SKIMS and I only wear SKIMS.”
However, a source close to Kardashian clarified to TMZ that Shirilla’s case does not align with the reality star’s current focus. Kim Kardashian’s advocacy is centered on supporting those she believes were wrongfully convicted or have demonstrated rehabilitation, a category Shirilla’s conviction does not fit.
Kardashian has been working toward a legal career for several years and is expected to complete her four-year legal apprenticeship program in 2025, although she has yet to pass the California bar exam. Since announcing her goal in 2019 to follow in her late father Robert Kardashian Sr.’s footsteps, she has taken an active role in criminal justice reform, helping to reduce sentences and secure releases for various individuals.
As for Shirilla, she is currently serving two consecutive sentences of 15 years to life at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. In August 2023, she was found guilty of murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, and other charges related to the deaths of her 20-year-old boyfriend Dominic Russo and their 19-year-old friend Davion Flanagan.
The crash occurred on July 31, 2022, when then-17-year-old Shirilla drove her car at around 100 miles per hour into a brick wall, killing Russo and Flanagan. Initially considered a tragic accident, the case evolved into a double-murder investigation following a lengthy inquiry.
Netflix’s documentary The Crash, directed by Gareth Johnson and produced by Angharad Scott, delves deeper into the case and the complicated relationships involved. The film also features Shirilla’s first-ever sit-down interview, offering an intimate look at the story behind the headlines.