An Ohio teenager has been found guilty of murder on Monday (Aug. 14) by a judge after deliberately crashing her car to kill her boyfriend.
Dominic Russo, 20, along with his friend, Davion Flanagan, 19, were killed on July 31, 2022 in a deadly crash when Mackenzie Shirilla, then 17, drove her car into a building at 100 miles per hour in Strongsville, Ohio. All were found trapped inside of the severely damaged car with Russo and Flanagan pronounced dead at the scene, while Shirilla was found unconscious and hospitalized.
Shirilla, now 19, sobbed in the courtroom as Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy Margaret Russo found her guilty on 12 counts, including murder and aggravated vehicular homicide.
"This was not reckless driving," said Judge Russo prior to the verdict. "This was murder."
Shirilla was driving a 2018 Toyota Camry with Russo riding in the front and Flanagan in the back, according to Stronsgville Police. The three had allegedly smoked marijuana at a friend's home before the deadly crash with Shirilla having exceeding the limit of THC in her system, as reported by Cleveland.com.
Prosecutors presented a surveillance video in court showing Shirilla driving at normal speed but then suddenly jerking the wheel in different directions before slamming into the building.
"The intent was obvious upon seeing that video that there was only one goal, and the computer demonstrated that there was no attempt to slow down or stop, that it was full speed into a building and tragically cost two people their lives," said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley.
Prosecutors also claim that Shirilla and Russo's relationship was turbulent. "There is no doubt that this happened because of the relationship with Dominic and the defendant's intent was clearly to end that, and she took everybody that was in the car with her," O'Malley said according to reporting by 3News.
Shirilla allegedly left messages on Russo's online obituary, including "You are the love of my life you will always be with me and I will always think about you," as reported by The Daily Beast.
Shirilla's attorney claims that prosecutors did not prove that she intentionally crashed the car and may have lost control of it instead.
Shirilla's mother says that she will appeal the conviction.
