Ohio Supreme Court Rejects Mackenzie Shirillas Third Appeal After Netflix-Documented Murder Conviction

The Ohio Supreme Court on June 24 declined to hear a petition from 20‑year‑old Mackenzie Shirilla, who was convicted of murdering her boyfriend Dominic Russo and friend Davion Flanagan in a 2022 vehicular crash. Court filings show the justices “declined to accept jurisdiction of the appeal,” leaving Shirilla’s two concurrent life sentences intact.

Shirilla was sentenced in August 2023 to two life terms, with parole eligibility after 15 years, for 12 felony counts that include murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, felonious assault, drug possession and possession of criminal tools. She remains incarcerated at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville.

The case began when Shirilla, then 17, intentionally drove her vehicle into a brick wall in Strongsville, Ohio, at an estimated speed of 100 mph. The crash killed Russo, 20, and Flanagan, 20, and left Shirilla severely injured. Police concluded the collision was deliberate. A bench trial in 2023 found Shirilla had premeditated the act, and the trial court imposed the life sentences, setting a parole hearing for September 2037.

Shirilla’s legal team has pursued three appeals. Two were filed in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and one in the Eighth District Court of Appeals; all were denied. In the most recent effort, her attorneys argued that new medical evidence indicated a blackout caused by a medical condition that could have impaired her judgment at the time of the crash. The Ohio Supreme Court’s decision, citing the filing’s timing and jurisdictional grounds, rejected the request for post‑conviction relief.

The case captured national attention when Netflix released the documentary The Crash in May 2026. The film traces the 2022 incident, the subsequent investigation, trial and appeals, and features interviews with law‑enforcement officials, legal experts and family members. The documentary’s release coincided with the Supreme Court’s ruling, renewing scrutiny of the legal proceedings.

Ohio law treats intentional vehicular homicide as a first‑degree felony. Sentencing guidelines allow for life imprisonment with parole eligibility after a minimum of 15 years, which aligns with Shirilla’s current schedule. The Ohio Criminal Justice System has a record of denying appeals when the appellate court finds no new evidence that could alter the trial court’s findings.

Because the Supreme Court refused to accept jurisdiction, Shirilla’s conviction and sentence remain unchanged. Her next opportunity for parole will be in September 2037, when the parole board will review her conduct and rehabilitation progress.

The case illustrates the intersection of criminal law, media coverage and public interest. While the documentary has highlighted procedural details, the court’s decision confirms that the legal process has reached its final stage for the present appeal.

In summary, Mackenzie Shirilla’s third appeal was denied by the Ohio Supreme Court, leaving her two concurrent life sentences intact and setting her parole eligibility for 2037.