31 Chilling Mackenzie Shirilla Text Messages

Mackenzie Shirilla's text messages after. the deadly crash that left two young. [music] men dead shed a whole other. light on this case. So, we're going to. break down the conversations that she. had after this incident that would. ultimately see her behind bars [music]. and more details from a police report. that gives us a better understanding of. this investigation. Welcome to Sidebar. presented by Law & Crime. I'm Jesse. Weber. Now, if you're watching this and you're.

into content creation or you're putting. things out on social media, you might be. wondering how do we get all these clips. out there so quickly? Well, we use. something called Opus Clip. [snorts]. This is an all-in-one AI editor that. makes it so easy to cut, create, and. upload videos across any platform. Through AI, Opus Clip generates B-roll, it reframes footage, and it even cleans. up audio. It is so easy. Just visit. opus.pro/sidebar. You sign up, you upload, and in minutes. you will have perfectly edited clips. ready to go for TikTok, Shorts, Reels. Opus Clip is really your one-stop. shopping. Having a tool like Opus Clip.

means that our producers can get you. viral courtroom updates instantly. This. is the most powerful tool there is to. share ideas and edit like a pro. So, go. to opus.pro/sidebar. to get a free week and then 50% off. You. know, I say text messages are sometimes. such powerful evidence because once a. message is sent, it can be very hard to. argue that you didn't send it or you. didn't mean what you wrote. And that is. why I want to address right now the. communications in the Mackenzie Shirilla. case. We have been covering all aspects.

of the young woman who was found guilty. by a judge in a bench trial back in 2023. of four counts of murder, four counts of. felonious assault, two counts of. aggravated vehicular homicide, one count. of drug possession, and one count of. possessing criminal tools all in. connection with the July 31st, 2022 car. crash that killed her boyfriend, Dominic. Russo, and their friend, Davion. Flanagan. Dominic was 20, Davion was 19.

Now, the 17-year-old Shurilla at the. time mashed down the accelerator, never. tried to brake. This is according to. investigator reports, sailed over a. curb, through a business sign into a. brick wall. Now, Shurilla has insisted. that ever since she has no memory. whatsoever of the crash or the minutes. leading up to it, which we'll get into, because she and her family have. suggested that she has a diagnosis of. POTS. It's a medical condition that can. cause dizziness or fainting. So, they. claim Shurilla must have blacked out, which is why she drove off the road. Shurilla's mother even testified at the.

bench trial that she'd seen her daughter. exhibit symptoms of POTS, but the. defense never called a medical examiner. to testify that Shurilla actually has. the condition. So, didn't seem to. convince the judge. And by the way, there was no evidence of a car. malfunction, there was no evidence of. intoxication from drugs or alcohol. Shurilla, she was arrested several. months after the tragedy, so in November. of 2022, and after her 2023 trial, she. was sentenced to life in prison with the. possibility of parole starting in 2037. But, Shurilla and her family have. continued to maintain that she's.

innocent, and this includes, in her. first on-camera interview from behind. bars in a new documentary on Netflix. called The Crash. For example, she told. the documentary's producers, "I'm not a. monster. I'm not saying I'm innocent. I. was the driver of a tragedy, but I'm not. a murderer." When asked about her. relationship with Dominic, which we're. going to explore in a little bit more, "We would have probably been married by. now. We argued, we got back together, we. broke up, we got back together. It was. rocky, but it was good. We were in. love." And then she added, when it was.

revealed that her attorney was. reportedly right there in the room next. to her during this interview on tape, which she did again from behind bars, she added, "Quote, I'm big on the no. intent. There was no intent whatsoever. there. 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, and that's it. I give all that. backstory to talk now about text. messages. When you go to this phone.

records document, which is by the way up. on Long Crime Plus, our app, you go to. the case file section, we have a whole. section for Mackenzie Shirilla, and all. the documents if you want to do a deep. dive into the case. What you see, for. example, are multiple attempts by. Mackenzie Shirilla to contact what. appears to be members of the Russo. family, particularly Dominic's mother. So, this is after the crash, again, before she was arrested in November of. 2022. So, for example, in August, so. this is just a short time after the. crash, Shirilla writes, apparently in. reference to Dom's funeral, "I love you.

so much, Ms. Russo. I'm sorry for being. on FaceTime made you guys upset. I just. needed to see if he looks so peaceful, and thank you guys for putting pictures. of me. I'm so sorry, you guys. I wish I. could be there to hug you. I love you. all so much, and I'm so sorry." "I'm so. sorry, Ms. Russo. I love you all so. much. I'm so sorry that this happened. I. miss him so much. I wish I could be. there for you guys. I will always be. here for you, and when I'm out of the. hospital, I can take care of you. whenever you need." And then she talks. about what she wants to put in his. coffin. "I tried to ask Angelo, but.

would you be able to go in Dom's room. and go into his bedroom, and on his back. desk, and grab some stuff to put in his. coffin? I just wanted to be with him.". And she seemed to be very aware that she. needed to be careful and not cross any. lines with this family because look at. this message from August 9th. "Just let. me know if you want me to stop bothering. you. I will always be here when you're. ready to talk." And remember, she's. still in the hospital after the crash, recovering. For example, this one from. September 23rd, "I don't want to bother. you, and I feel bad for asking if you.

guys are doing something for Dom's. birthday, and you don't want me to come, are you going to go to the grave, and. maybe we can meet there or something. I'm sorry." And it goes into October. Again, a month before her arrest, she's. still reaching out. And a big theme is. why do people hate her? "If you don't. hate me, I don't understand why they all. hate me. And after there's an exchange. about Instagram, again maybe Dom's. mother, McKenzie writes back, I know I could. help you if you want to, but I was just. telling you I don't understand why they. hate me if you don't hate me.

I'm really stressed out about people. moving my things or making it look. different than it was when Dom lived. there because I think they had been. living together. My top priority is just. being able to go inside of that house. and just be there for the day. It hurts. that everybody but me is allowed in the. house. It already hurts seeing all of. his friends there at night spending time. with you, but it hurts even worse seeing. I'm the only one not allowed in his. house that I spent the most time in. I just don't get why everybody has to. hate me. It just makes me hate myself. even more. I wish everybody would just. not hate me. I really can't tell if you.

hate me or not. I feel like if you. didn't hate me, you wouldn't let me come. over or be there for you or you would. tell everybody that they shouldn't hate. me, but I feel like you just don't like. me and I wish you would just tell me so. I could stop bugging you. Response back. is this is all emotional. I can't tell. anyone to do anything. I don't hate you. Gosh, I'm having a tough time with just. not having my son. Response back from. Shirelle is you can't tell them to, but. you could tell them that you don't hate. me and it's hard for me, too. I'm also. having a tough time. He was the love of.

my life and I spent my last four years. every day with him pretty much. I just. don't understand why I'm the only one. not allowed inside of his house. I know. he wouldn't want this. I didn't just. lose Dom, lost my whole other family and. that's you guys. Now, there were several. times during the course of these. communications where the conversation. circles back to what exactly happened. that night and that Shirelle claims she. can't remember. For example, Shirelle. was asked, "What made you start. speeding?" Shirelle responds, "I don't.

remember the accident. All I remember is. turning on the street and then my vision. fading into black. I wish I could. remember. It would make me feel a little. bit better." So, this is a message from. Christine Russo, again uh Dominic's. mother, to Shirelle. It says, "I would. do anything to have you both with me. like before, but you need and you have. to understand how one feels about this. Your driving killed my son, their. brother, and their best friend. No one. has any answers about why this accident. occurred and why you drove directly into. a building which resulted in two young.

men dying. It was not an ordinary car. accident. If it was, we would not be. having this conversation." Shirelle. responds, "I didn't know you felt that. way. I hope you would know I would never. do this on purpose. I needed him more. than anybody on this earth. He was my. everything." Response back, "I was. explaining to you why it's difficult for. things to try to be normal as they never. will be. It still never answers what happened. that night." Shirelle responds, "I wish I could remember just as much as. you want to know why. It kills me not.

being able to remember because if I. could help, I would. I wasn't asking for. life to be normal. It's never going to. be the same for me, either." And then I. got to read you this one where Shirelle. responds, "I did not do this on purpose. If I knew any of this would happen, I. would have made sure it was me that. died. I would think you would. understand, but good to know that you. think it's all my fault. I do understand. that nothing is ever going to be the. same. We're in the same boat. We both. lost extremely important people to us.". Then there's another part that says, "Everybody's life is hell. Everybody's. broken over this. It's not just you and.

Angelo, and I wish I could take that. pain away from you guys and just make it. so it's only me. I tried so hard to tell. you guys that I would never do this on. purpose, and I thought you would know. that." Then there's this one, "Could you. please try to help me get people to see. that I didn't do this on purpose? Seriously hurts my soul that anyone. thinks that, and I can't sleep knowing. that." This is from October 14th, and. then it also says, "I don't want to lose. any more of my family." There's a. message to Shirelle that says, uh "No. one says that directly. I just said.

looking from the other side, it's hard. to explain anything when you said you. don't remember any of it." And then. Shirelle responds, "I know everybody. thinks that though, especially Angelo, and I care so much about him. Even. though he hates me, you guys are my. family. I've just been having a rough. couple days. I'm trying really hard to. talk to everybody." There's this one, "Can we please just try to fix this? All. I know is it's never going to be the. same, but I want to be able to come. spend time with you guys. I wish I could bring you guys closer or. tell you what happened. If I could. remember anything, I would tell you.".

Now, she's asked, "What's the last thing. you remember?". Uh I remember turning onto the street, and then my vision fades to black. It. really kills me not being able to. remember anything. I promise you I would. tell you. I've been asking my therapist. why I don't remember, and she said it's. because of trauma, but I'm going to try. to go get hypnotized and make myself. remember. And what's interesting also is how much. in these conversations she talks about. how much she loves Dom. So, Sherilla. writes at one point, "Life is just going. to be effed up. He was just someone that.

did something for all of us and made us. all feel loved and protected in a. special way. He had a really certain soul that was. like no other. I've never met anybody. that was like him, and he grew so much. in a relationship. It just hurts. He was a mama's boy. He would literally. be there for you no matter what." And. then there's this one, "Our relationship. was getting so real. Like I felt like we. were going to get married soon, and S, it's just so bleeped." Now, speaking of. text messages, the text messages between. Sherilla and Dominic are included in.

investigative paperwork, and I just want. to take a look. I want to focus on a. conversation that happened just 4 weeks. before Dom's death. So, this looks like. he was trying to end things, even. writing, "There isn't very much time on. Earth." Quote, "Kenzi, you know I love. you, but I don't think we should be. together at this point. There isn't very. much time on Earth, you know? I'd like. to think we could stop fighting, but. it's a breakup fight every week. Neither. of us deserve that. I don't want to. fight all the time. I know you don't. either. Anyone who's around anyone every.

day of the week is bound to fight. If we. can't separate for a little, then we're. only going to fight more. I don't want. you to think I'm abandoning you. I wish. it could work, but I don't think it's. going to at this point, especially with. the threats. We should just break up so. we can both find happiness somewhere. else. And that text was followed up by. another one just a few hours later. asking Sherilla if she wants to try to. work things out. Now, there's another document, a police. department document that lays out.

essentially the whole timeline of this. investigation. It's up on Law&Crime. Plus, uh the app as well. And a part of. that are these text messages between. Sherilla and Christine Russo. Now, we. believe again this to be Dom's mother, not a sister who share the same name, but I'm going to read you these. exchanges. So, January 30th, uh 2021, McKenzie writes, "Dom is texting me. being really crazy, so please keep an. eye on him. I'm worried AF.". January 31st, 2021, McKenzie writes, "I.

didn't mean to make him flip out. I just. can't take him yelling at me all night. and all day." Russo responds, "I know, you should have just hugged him." March. 5th, 2022, Russo writes, "Hey, just go home. Avoid any conflict, please. You can call me." McKenzie. writes, "I'm Jay waiting to talk to. him." Russo responds, "They just left. It's going to be a while. You should. respect his space while he's gone.". Russo says, "I asked you to leave. You. should have respect and left." McKenzie. writes, "He's home now.".

July 2nd, 2022. So, this is right before. the crash, only a few weeks before the. crash, right? July 2nd, 2022, Russo. writes, "Don't fight. Just leave. Take a break.". McKenzie writes, "I already left. Dom. needs some therapy. He's so mean." July. 17th, 2022, McKenzie writes, "Can you. come get Dom? He just grabbed my. steering wheel on the highway trying to. spin out my car and hurt me." McKenzie. writes, "I'm scared to drive because. it's raining, so I just need him to get. picked up. If he doesn't get out of my.

car, I'm calling my dad, so please tell. him to get out." Russo responds, "Hinch. is on his way. Calm down for now, please." McKenzie writes, "TBH, to be. honest, I can't calm down when he just. tried to end my life." McKenzie writes, "Then he lied to you about it." Russo. writes, "I'm just trying to diffuse for. now. I'm not mad at anyone." McKenzie. says, "I don't think he's capable of. that when he keeps telling me to shut up. and to duct tape my mouth." McKenzie. says, "I don't feel safe. He's also. threatening to blackmail me to my mom.

He's not getting out. He also blocked. me, so I can't go pick up any of my. belongings at his house. I hope this is. a learning experience for him on what. not to do to women because I really. don't think he knows how to treat them. all." Russo responds, "Stop the fighting. and stop lying. When he gets his things, you can get. yours." McKenzie says, "First of all, I'm not lying about anything. Maybe you. shouldn't take his word so seriously. You don't know how he treats me behind. closed doors. It's never okay to try to. end somebody's life or put their hands.

on people." Russo responds, "No one. should touch anyone. No fighting for. sure in the car. He never put his hands. on you." McKenzie says, "You need to. tell him that. He tried to end my life. today and told me, 'Do you want to. die?'" McKenzie writes, "I almost hit. the wall and I could have died." So, eerily, very eerie considering what. happened only a few weeks later. Russo. responds, "And you haven't blackmailed. him with the cops a hundred times?". But when police followed up with Hinch, the friend who picked up Dom during that.

early July incident, Dom claimed it was. Sherilla who threatened to crash the. car. And that was relayed to police in. an interview with the saying, quote, "I. asked Russo about a text message. exchange with McKenzie dated July 17th, 2022. At approximately 12:45 hours, McKenzie asked Russo to pick up Dominic. from her car, which was stopped at the. side of an unknown highway. McKenzie. claimed Dominic had grabbed her steering. wheel in an attempt to spin out the car. and hurt her. Russo explained that. McKenzie always blamed Dominic for. whatever issues were going on between. them. She further added that Dominic.

called her and calmly asked her to come. pick him up because Kenzie is being. crazy. She's threatening to crash the. car on the highway. Christopher Martin, who goes by Hench, picked up Dominic that day. He was. identified by Russo as a friend of. Dominic. And several other witnesses talked about. Sherilla's driving, including a friend. Kelly, who had been with Sherilla, Dom, and Davion at a party before the crash. Quote, "When I asked her if she had ever. been in the car with McKenzie as the. driver, she said no." Kelly mentioned. that her friend Tessa told her that.

McKenzie sucked at driving. Kelly. believed Tess was someone who knew. McKenzie very well. And then there's. this interview with Paul Burlinghouse, the friend who'd hosted the. get-together. Quote, "Next, I inquired. whether Paul had ever been a passenger. in McKenzie's car while she drove." He. said, "I've refused a ride from. McKenzie." When asked why, he said. because she was a bad driver. He further. explained that she got in fights while. driving. He listed an incident between. McKenzie and her neighbor who confronted. her about running a stop sign. Paul said. he used to see McKenzie zipping through.

Pearl Road after school. Paul said he. refused rides from McKenzie because he. was not stupid and did not want to put. himself in a situation he wouldn't want. to be in. Paul mentioned Rosie, who was. one of McKenzie's passengers, told him, "Don't go in the car with Kenzie. It's. not good." And it turns out that. Sherilla's Snapchat account was a. treasure trove of information. The. investigators compiled more than 130. videos or images that were related to. Sherilla's driving. I mean, the report. states, for example, McKenzie is driving.

while simultaneously recording herself. on Snapchat. A person in the driver's. seat recorded a Snapchat video of the. vehicle traveling at 90 mph. Multiple. videos exist of McKenzie recording. herself while driving without wearing. the seatbelt over her shoulder. In. others, the seatbelt is visible under. her armpit. Mackenzie records the. speedometer of the vehicle she's. operating traveling at 93 mph. So again, when you look at this in the context of. what happened to her, what happened to. Dominique, what happened to Davion, it's. just chilling to say the least, right?

And one of the aspects of the case that. is getting a lot of attention is. Sherilla's behavior after the crash, appearing to essentially live her life. in a way where the argument was it. didn't seem like she cared what. happened. For example, here's what a. police narrative says about trying to. speak with Sherilla in the hospital. This is along with her dad Steve and her. mom Natalie, quote, "The three of us. returned to the room. Mackenzie was conscious and alert." It. goes on to say, "I explained to all. three the details of the search warrant. and the basic nature of the.

investigation. Steve asked about video. surveillance from the crash itself. I. also informed them that SPD will be. downloading the data from the Toyota's. event data recorder pursuant to another. search warrant. Natalie then inquired. about the location of the Toyota. At. some point Mackenzie interrupted and. addressed her mom in a language that I. did not understand. Her mother replied, 'You can.' indicating that she. understood what Mackenzie had said. Mackenzie then turned to me and stated, 'Take my whole license away for 10 years. or something like that.'". Again, the argument would be not.

appreciating. what happened, right? The seriousness of. what happened, the crime that she. ultimately was convicted of. How about this? Apparently one of. Davion's family members emailed the. detective a screenshot of Sherilla's. Instagram, which was later shown during. Sherilla's sentencing hearing. And it. says, quote, "This is a screenshot from. our daughter Divine's phone of comments, the social media post from Kenzie about. her modeling career. This post is from later in the week. after the accident while Kenzie was in.

the hospital. Divine believes that it. was approximately two days after the. accident. The post was commented on by. both Kenzie and her mother talking about. furthering her modeling career. We are. extremely upset to see this post and. felt it was very disrespectful to our. family's loss and to Davion and Dom. It. is sickening that someone could be so. self-absorbed after causing the death of. two people and destroying any hopes of. their future plans. Now, when I read. that report, I will tell you some of the. most impactful legal aspects of this.

this police report are about the actual. car data. Was this an accident or was it. not, right? So, you go to the report it. says, quote, Ohio State Highway Patrol. Sergeant Ryan Fox emailed me his. analysis of the EDR data. Prior to the. Camry entering the intersection, a loud. screeching sound can be heard from the. business surveillance system camera that. records the approach and crash of the. Camry. This loud screeching is likely. the result of a steering input of the. driver and the inability of the tires. and friction of the roadway to overcome. the forward momentum of the vehicle. The.

vehicle's tires are likely turned as. requested by the steering input. reported, but the vehicle is continuing. more in its original forward trajectory. This likely indicates manipulation of. the steering wheel immediately prior to. entering the intersection. The brake. light that was illuminated mere. fractions of a second prior to impact. The system will activate the rear brake. lights to indicate the possible slowing. of the vehicle to other motorists even. if the driver is not pressing on the. brake pedal. The extreme driver input. for the vehicle prior to the collision,

the brake light activation is likely the. result of the safety systems working to. avoid the impact ahead or return the. vehicle to a straight orientation for. the direction of travel. This likely. indicates that although the steering. wheel was manipulated left and right, no. braking was applied by the operator. So, there you go. Some more things to think. about in the McKenzie Shirilla case as. it's back in the conversation, it's back. in the dialogue, we're learning more. information, we'll stay on top of it. here on Sidebar. It's all we have for. you right now. Thank you so much for. joining us. As always, please subscribe.

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