Where Is Mackenzie Shirilla Now? Everything You Need to Know After Netflix's The Crash

Netflix's true-crime documentary The Crash premiered on May 15, 2026, and immediately became one of the most-watched films on the platform — reaching No. 1 in the US within days. At the centre of it is Mackenzie Shirilla, a young Ohio woman convicted of murdering her boyfriend and his friend in a 100 mph car crash in 2022. Here is everything you need to know.

What Is The Crash About?

The Crash is a 90-minute true-crime documentary directed by Gareth Johnson and produced by Angharad Scott. It reconstructs the events of July 31, 2022, when then-17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla crashed her 2018 Toyota Camry into the brick wall of a commercial building in Strongsville, Ohio, at approximately 100 miles per hour. The two passengers — her boyfriend, Dominic "Dom" Russo, 20, and his friend Davion Flanagan, 19 — were killed on impact. Shirilla survived.

What began as a seemingly tragic accident became a criminal investigation, then a murder trial, and finally a conviction that divided public opinion across the internet. The documentary features new interviews with the victims' families, investigators, friends, and — for the very first time — Mackenzie Shirilla herself, speaking on camera from prison.

What Happened the Night of the Crash?

In the early hours of July 31, 2022 — around 5am — Shirilla was driving Russo and Flanagan home from a high school graduation party. She turned into the Progress Drive Business Park in Strongsville and, within one minute, her car was travelling at 100 mph and slammed into a brick building.

Police initially treated it as an accident. But as investigators examined the evidence, the picture changed. Car data showed the accelerator was fully pressed for several seconds before impact, with gear changes and steering movements detected immediately before the collision. Surveillance footage showed Shirilla driving normally before the sudden acceleration. A friend reportedly told police they were on the phone with Shirilla shortly before the crash and heard her say she would "crash this car." Psilocybin mushrooms and a digital scale were also found at the scene.

After months of investigation, Shirilla was arrested in November 2022 and charged with multiple counts including murder.

What Was Mackenzie Shirilla's Defense?

Shirilla did not testify at her trial. Her defense argued she suffered from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) — a blood pressure disorder that can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and blackouts — and that a medical episode may have caused her to lose consciousness at the wheel. She claimed she has no memory of the crash.

However, no medical records or expert testimony confirming a POTS diagnosis were presented at trial. When prosecutors questioned her mother Natalie on the stand about why Mackenzie had been allowed to obtain a driver's licence if she had a known blackout condition, Natalie struggled to answer.

Prosecutors argued the crash was intentional — that Shirilla had accelerated deliberately after her volatile relationship with Russo had broken down.

Was Mackenzie Shirilla Found Guilty?

Yes. In August 2023, following a bench trial in Cuyahoga County, a judge found Shirilla guilty on 12 counts including two counts of murder. The judge described her actions as "controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional and purposeful" — and called her "literal hell on wheels."

She was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 15 years to life in prison. She also received a lifetime driving ban.

Where Is Mackenzie Shirilla Now?

Mackenzie Shirilla is currently incarcerated at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio. She is 21 years old.

Her parents, Steve and Natalie Shirilla, have said they remain in daily contact with her and that she spends much of her time in prison painting and journaling.

Her first parole hearing is not expected until October 2037, at which point she will be 33 years old. Whether parole is granted at that point is far from guaranteed.

Has Mackenzie Shirilla Appealed Her Conviction?

Yes — three times. All three have been denied.

What Did Mackenzie Shirilla Say in the Netflix Documentary?

The Crash marks the first time Shirilla has spoken publicly at length since her conviction. In her prison interview, she maintained she is not a murderer and has no memory of the crash.

"I'm not a monster," she said. "I'm not saying I'm innocent. I was a driver of a tragedy, but I'm not a murderer."

She added: "There was no intent whatsoever. I have excessive amounts of remorse for Dominic, Davion, both of their families. This was not intentional, and I will do everything I can to prove that to the world and the families."

She continued to attribute the crash to her POTS condition, suggesting she may have had a medical episode at the wheel.

What Have the Victims' Families Said?

The victims' families have been vocal about their response to the documentary and to Shirilla's continued insistence on innocence.

Dominic Russo's sister Christine spoke out after the documentary's release, saying Shirilla is "rotten to the core." The families of both Russo and Flanagan have consistently maintained that the conviction was correct and that the documentary's platform for Shirilla caused them further pain.

What Has the Response Been Online?

The documentary has generated enormous public debate, with communities on Reddit, TikTok, and YouTube split between those who believe Shirilla is a murderer and those who think the POTS defense deserved more consideration at trial.

One former prison inmate, Mary Katherine Crowder, claimed on TikTok that Shirilla's remorse in the documentary was performative, stating: "Mackenzie Shirilla did not walk around that prison yard with an ounce of remorse." She alleged Shirilla was more concerned with her appearance and social standing in prison than expressing grief — and claimed she used a different voice for the documentary. These are unverified claims.

What Happened to Mackenzie Shirilla's Father?

Steve Shirilla, who appeared in the documentary defending his daughter, is an art and digital media teacher at a school in Cleveland.

On May 18, 2026 — three days after the documentary premiered — he was placed on administrative leave following what the school described as allegations that he had "demonstrated poor judgement." Viewers objected to his demeanour and comments in the film, including his apparent nonchalance about his daughter using drugs during her teenage years.

Will Mackenzie Shirilla Ever Be Released?

Her first parole hearing is scheduled for October 2037. Sam Bassett, Criminal Defense Attorney at Minton, Bassett, Flores & Carsey, P.C., told The Mirror that, "Any lack of remorse for crimes committed could hurt her chances of parole. However, the underlying crime is very important for the parole board to consider in their decision."

This article discusses the deaths of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan. Our thoughts are with their families, loved ones, and all those affected by the tragedy. Given the ongoing public attention surrounding the case and the release of Netflix’s The Crash, we aim to report on the documentary and legal proceedings with sensitivity and care.