Mackenzie Shirilla Blasted by Boyfriend’s Sister Amid New Allegations

I don't like to see that the Shirillas. are not remorseful and that they just. can't say they're sorry. >> We're continuing our coverage of this. newly released [music] documentary about. the case of Mackenzie Shirilla by. speaking to the sister of one of her. victims. I want her thoughts on this. documentary, what Mackenzie said, what. she observed firsthand of [music] this. murderer, and how she and the families. are doing and also, and this sometimes. gets lost [music] in all of the legal. cases, what was Dominic Russo really. like. Welcome to Sidebar presented by. Law & Crime. I'm [music] Jesse Weber.

We're talking about Dominic's. girlfriend, Mackenzie Shirilla, crashed. that car into a wall at 100 miles per. hour, killing them both. And we're doing. it in a special way today. We are. bringing on the sister of one of the. victims, Christine Russo, sister to. 20-year-old Dominic Russo, because. Dominic was in a Toyota Camry with his. friend, 19-year-old Davion Flanagan,

when the driver of that car, Dominic's. girlfriend, Mackenzie Shirilla, crashed. the car into a wall at 100 miles per. hour, killing them both. This was back. on July 31st, 2022. Authorities said she. did this intentionally, on purpose. They. cited to a tumultuous relationship with. Dominic. They looked at the car data. They highlighted her odd behavior after. the incident in which it appeared she. showed no remorse. And Mackenzie. Shirilla, she went to trial. She opted. for a bench trial instead of a jury. trial, meaning again that a judge heard.

and saw the arguments and the evidence. And in the end, you know, that decision, it ended with her being found guilty. She was found guilty of all 12 counts, murder, felonious assault, aggravated. vehicular homicide, drug possession, possessing criminal tools, and she was. sentenced to two life terms in prison. served at the same time with the. possibility of parole after 15 years. Now, something I got to mention before I. go any further, everything about this. case, everything you need to know, the. case files on this case, okay? If you. want a deeper dive on it, if you want to. read the filing, see the evidence, it's.

up right now on the Law & Crime Plus app. under the case files. We built a case. file for Mackenzie Shirilla. You can. check it all out there. Okay. By the. way, we did a whole sidebar episode on. this as well yesterday because there is. this new Netflix documentary. It's. called The Crash. It premiered. And in. it, you actually hear from Mackenzie. Shirilla, okay, in prison. And she made. certain comments, statements in this. documentary that you know, it has made. the news, like where she said, "I'm not. a monster. I'm not saying I'm innocent.

I was a driver of a tragedy, but I'm not. a murderer." She said that regarding. Dominic, "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." By the way, I'm going. to ask Christina about this. You'll see. this interview. And again, how she. doesn't remember anything from the night. of the crash. "I remember turning on the. street, and then I'm waking up in the. hospital the next day, and my whole life. is shattered." Now, I mentioned this. yesterday. I'm going to mention it. again. Netflix's fan site, Tudum, they. wrote up an article about the film. And.

they said this about, you know, big. twist at the end. Quote, "It's only. after Mackenzie finishes speaking that. the filmmakers reveal her attorney has. been in the room the entire time. Her. demeanor demonstrably shifts as she. checks in on how she's coming across. I. don't want to force anything and just. say too much or sound crazy." This is. what she apparently says to her lawyer. before turning back to the camera to. say, "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. Now, she and her family have always. maintained that it was an accident, that. she's innocent, that this was caused due. to her alleged POTS condition. It's a. medical condition where you can become. dizzy or faint. She said that she blacks. out. And this was her defense at trial, by the way. Judge rejected it, and no. medical expert was able to confirm these. findings at trial. And we also discussed. yesterday how her parents, who were. featured in the documentary, they have.

taken a lot of heat, a lot of criticism. online particularly from, you know, their reactions to what happened, to her. mother's statement in court, to the odd. jailhouse calls, and for what her dad. said about marijuana use in the. documentary, even though he claims his. words were twisted, administrative leave. from his job. Again, our episode. yesterday went all over that. But before. we even go into my interview with. Christine Russo, there's one thing that. we didn't play yesterday in our episode, and it was this, okay? Body cam footage. This is when authorities first start.

talking to Mackenzie while she's still. in the car. >> Sarge, we're good to try to get her out? >> Oh, dude, I don't know if we can in. there. >> No, just. just. wait until the fire gets ready. She can't. She's pinned in there. >> Oh my god. >> She Can you see her. breathing? >> She's breathing. She's breathing. Head's wedged. Let's see if we can get some IDs, guys.

25, go ahead. >> Do they look younger? >> How old are the other girls? >> Oh, yeah, they're all pretty young. >> Oh my god. >> I don't feel anything. I don't feel a. pulse. >> But she's breathing. >> I saw her stomach her stomach move. >> Yeah. >> We got two that are gone. >> Yeah. She's moving a little bit. She can.

move her leg. Mackenzie, can you hear me? Can you move your leg or your arm or. anything? >> Is she talking? >> Yeah. >> Can she. Is she talking? >> Yeah, she can she can hear me a little. bit. I saw her moving her left leg.

McKenzie, this is the police department. We're going to get you out of here, okay? We got the uh fire department on the. way. >> All right, thank. >> You're stuck in here pretty good. >> And then, talking to her in the. ambulance where she appears to answer a. couple questions and then stops. answering. >> questions. >> Okay. Do you remember what were the. names of the people that were in the. car? >> Dom and David. >> Dom and David? >> David. >> David? >> Damien. >> Damien?

>> David. >> David? Do you know his last name? Okay. Do you know where he lives? >> He's staying in New Town. >> Staying with her in town. >> So now, as McKenzie Shrilla is locked up. at the Ohio Reformatory for women in. Ohio. Yes, it's possible she could be. paroled as early as 2037. This is. according to the Department of. Corrections. I mean, she would be in her. early 30s. I do want to get some. perspective now. I want to get some. context. I did this interview with. Dominic's sister, Christine Russo, who.

hosts this podcast. It's called the Big. Sister Unhinged podcast. And she has. been very vocal about this case, the. documentary. Here's my interview with her. All right. Joined right now by Dominic's. sister, Christine Russo, who by the way. launched a podcast. Encourage everybody. to check out. It's called. the Big Sister Unhinged podcast. And. Christine, thank you so much for taking. the time to come on here, particularly. now. I know it's not easy talking about.

this. I know it's not easy talking about. this when. it's so in the news right now, but I I I. think you're doing something incredibly. unique. And I And I before you even talk. about the before you even talk about the. documentary, why did you want to launch. your own venture here, your own podcast? Because when I'm listening to it, it. does make me wonder is it not only. bringing attention to your brother in. this situation and this case, but is it. also. therapeutic in a way? Does it help in a. way? >> Mhm.

Uh yeah, I actually I launched it for. several reasons. Um being therapeutic is. just one. Um I knew that before this. Netflix movie came out, um for years. it's been a talk around the community. Um it's been on the news, a couple of. shows, but I I had a feeling that this. was going to be so humongous. And I also. have had to battle um a lot of. misinformation, um a lot of lies spewing and a lot of. movements um about freeing my brother's.

murderer. I've been dealing with that. for quite some time, and I've always. felt very and my entire family very uh. helpless um being so small on the. internet trying to. correct misinformation. So I really just. tried to establish some type of platform. so when this aired, they could hear our. voices. >> What's the response been like to uh your. podcast and your, you know, what you've. had to say? >> So much support. Um there's of course. going to be trolls here and there, but. overall um I didn't I was not ready to.

have so much support. I was like, "Wow, I didn't know. that this would be so awesome." You know. what I'm saying? I've heard um other. stories of people sharing their grief. with me, um just how. I've made people feel better. Um my. family is very thankful for sticking up. for Dom. Like it's just been overall. a better experience. And the only other. option that I had was to sit back.

and watch everybody else online talk. about my brother and talk out the side. of their neck, act like they know facts. or, you know that they're all medical. experts or mechanical experts and. you know, it was either sit back and. watch the internet run wild um with. misinformation or. do this. >> So, did you watch the whole documentary? Did you sit through the whole Did you. watch all of it? >> I I got to preview it. They flew in the. producers flew in from um.

uh the UK in January and I previewed it. then. Um helped make some edits. They. took out some things that were not nice. things that were said about my brother. um from certain people um. in the cast and. uh but since it's been out as of last. Friday, I attempted to watch it for a. minute or two and I can't get further. than that. I just I don't want to see. it. >> Is that because it's so difficult to. revisit this moment or is it because. there's information in there that you.

say is not true? >> I don't like to see that the Sherrells. are not remorseful and that they just. can't say they're sorry. Um and it's more of. I'm really good with disconnecting and. making this like a story sometimes where. it's like not actually that my brother. is gone in real life. It's like I'm kind. of out of touch with reality a little. bit. So, watching it um. it's too it's just overwhelming. >> When you say misinformation, whether. it's what you believe was in this. project or online, what is some of that.

misinformation that you're trying to. correct? >> Um right off the top of my head was so. for instance, Landon and Rosie um. they make themselves out to be my. brother and Davion's best friend. Like. they. told the world on Netflix that they were. best friends and at the same time they. turn around and say very terrible things. about my brother and his lifestyle um. and things like that. So, I want to make.

it clear that they were they are not his. friends. Then they weren't Davion's best. friends. They were acquaintances. They. say things like Oh, yeah, I was best. friends with Davion or I was best. friends with Dom, you know, but he was. he was a drug dealer. It's like no, you're just you're they are Kenzie's. friends. Trying to make my brother look. bad. That's those are her best friends. and. they just put my brother down and that's. where I draw the line is my brother's. not here anymore. So, now I'm going to. defend him. So, I just want to let the.

world know that they are liars. >> What about misinformation regarding the. actual episode, the actual crash? You. talked about you said everybody that. acts like they're mechanical experts. Have you been trying to battle people. who say that this was not what the judge. found it to be? >> It's all over the place. So, like one. piece of misinformation or that people, you know, went left with was. Let's say that 2:53. Did you see the. movie? >> I saw I didn't see the whole thing. >> Okay. The whole thing but parts of it, yeah. One of the pieces of it is Dominic.

texted my dad at 2:53 in the morning, I. love you. Everybody was like, oh, that. was suggestive that he. you know, knew this was going to happen. or that he had something to do with it. Completely left. I want everybody to. know that my father text all of his. seven children, I love yous all the time. randomly and that's something that we do. back. So, it wasn't that that was. Dominic knew this was going to happen or. it was some type of piece of evidence.

That was just and it's not uncommon. We. do it all the time. So, stuff like that. Trying to think of like. There's things that the world doesn't. know like. why we know she's guilty. So, when the crash first happened, I thought it was an accident for a. while. So did my dad, so did my sister. Now, granted with there's seven. siblings. So, we were divided as to um. what uh you know, if it was an accident.

or not. And then some siblings knew. other stuff. So, McKenzie's mom, so Natalie actually we. thought it was an couple of us thought. it was an accident. Um. didn't want to believe it was murder. right after the right after the crash. Um Natalie Shrilla actually told us for. it was like 3 or 4 days she was telling. me, my father and my sister that. McKenzie was unconscious and had not. woken up. So, we're sitting there. praying for her, crying. Um.

I mean, I was just as upset for her that I had. lost my brother at that second, okay? So, for 3 4 days as we're praying that. she wakes up from this coma or you know, being unconscious, you know, and she's. going on and on about how she's going to. tell McKenzie Dom's gone and you know, praying that she wakes up and come to. find out just a few hours after she. killed my brother and Davion, she's in. the hospital bed videoing herself making. Tik Toks. And her mother sat there next.

to her trying to get modeling gigs all. over Instagram within hours after. killing two people. So, things like that. and it's like why would you lie about. it? >> you found out? You saw you saw the. social media post and that's how you. found out? >> Yes, my cousin started telling us I have. a very large family. So, with. screenshots and I'm like, something's. not adding up. So, then it's like why. would you why. as soon as after the crash they tried. they started corroborating their story. and and lying and um you know, there's I. was like, why you why would she why.

would she lie about this, you know, why. won't she let her talk or why would she. say she wasn't awake, you know, and now. it makes sense. Now, even when the. police came to her um just to give her. back her phone, they she looked at the police officer, she looked at her mom, she said to her, "Can I just tell them that I had a. seizure?". >> Mhm. >> So, immediately it was storytelling, you. know? So. >> What did you think about the way her. parents were portrayed or what they said. in the documentary? >> That is 100% them in real life.

I've been with them they were at my. house after the crash like I sat with. them through the entire trial. That is how they are in real life. Um. The dad is been very aggressive towards. me and. you know, in hearings and things like. that and he shouts out. um. certain things when it's not appropriate. like you know, no. no. Um they don't care about us grieving.

families. It's like there's no remorse. or no guiltiness or like I mean I don't. know. I would feel if I were if my. children knock on wood God forbid. hurt two other people like that and if. it was an accident like they say, I. would be sending them flowers and. baskets of fruit every week or like. letters. I still wait for letters in the. mail sometimes with an apology or. something and it's just it never. happened. They actually they it's like. they don't care. So that is in from the. documentary that's really how they are.

in real life. >> When was the last time you had contact. with them? >> As soon as she was arrested so November. 4th, 2022 was the last time as soon as. she was arrested never heard from them. again. >> You know, Steve has been placed on administrative. leave from his job after the. documentary. What do you think about. that? >> Um I think the whole thing is the whole. thing in general. that my brother is gone and Davian are. gone. I think the whole thing is sad. Um.

So when I first heard I felt absolutely. terrible. Um I don't life shouldn't be. like this. Diamond and Davian shouldn't. be here. She belongs in prison. But it to me it's like I just I wish she. wasn't born that way. I don't know if it. was nature versus nurture or what. happened to her but Um it to me it's sad. in general but like at the same time I. don't I don't like to hate. So, and I. don't like to. >> Right. >> know. >> Well, look, talking about Mackenzie, you. know, the big thing was what she had to. say in this Netflix documentary where. she said she's, you know, not a monster.

She has remorse. She thinks about um, Dom and Davion all the time. She said it. wasn't her intent. She was big to say it. wasn't her intent. What do you make of. those statements? >> It's a joke. Um, you could hear the. calls that, you know, they have all of. her calls recorded. And it's a I'm a. little bit on my podcast that I try to. listen to and I'm just it makes me sick. But, you can hear online all of her jail. calls and she's laughing at the victims, uh, laughing at the family, laughing. about getting famous. Like, she is just.

so full of it. Um, it was completely. rehearsed. She couldn't make eye. contact. She talked a lot slower than. she did. Like, that was not again I. don't that was Mackenzie. Um, it in the trial she cried after the. victim impact were read. Um, cried and. cried, you know, and then. come to find out she went in the back, she called her mom. The calls were. pulled. Um, and she's sitting there. making fun of us for reading the victim. impact statements. Like, she's making. fun of Davion's mom tell, you know,

[clears throat] laughing that why would. she tell me to repent? Haha. And it's. like there is. something very wrong, um, with that person. >> Well, she and her family have always. maintained, right, her innocence and. they keep putting, you know, this. defense of POTS. In your experience with. Mackenzie, did you ever see any symptoms. of POTS? >> Neither not myself nor anybody in my. family had even knew that she had that. Neither was there any medical records,

um, indicating anything about POTS, I. believe. Um, cuz that was discussed in. the trial as well. But, us as a family, we never knew she supposedly had this. I. still don't think she does. I think that. they looked up what kind of um. what kind of ailment or something you. can have to say that you passed out real. quick that's not detectable. I I don't. believe she has that. And I I'm not a. medical expert, but the way that it's. infuriating. the way the street is that it happened.

on, it's a big windy. like it's a it's a long windy road, right? And in order to maintain your car. on the street, you have to maintain full. control of your vehicle. You have to be. driving with two hands at 40 miles an. hour. I've done it. I've I've went. through this just to see. So, at 40. miles an hour, you have to have your. hands on the wheel and you're whipping. your car if you're trying to go at 40. 100 miles an hour.

you she would have been left, right, sideways. Like if she really did pass. out and stuck her foot down on the gas, she wouldn't have made it to the end of. the building to smack smack a building. She would have been off on a in a ditch. on the left or the right. Um or Dom or. Daveon would have grabbed at the wheel. Like it's just it's it's it's bull is. what it is. It's just not accurate. >> I don't know if you saw this, but I I. did an interview last night on my other. show, my NewsNation show, Jesse Weber. Live. That was two nights ago. And in this interview um [snorts] I. spoke with Kat Crowder who actually was.

locked up with McKenzie. She said she. didn't observe any symptoms of POTS. Basically characterized her as a mean. girl in prison. Basically said she never. saw her show remorse. That there was. almost this I I don't want to I don't. know if the word is like giddy, but like. she was, you know, very like not not. happy, but like kind of pleasant in the. way. Like she was ha you know, kind of. smiling and happy and jovial. Um when.

you hear things like that. how how do you interpret it? What do you. think? Cuz it's kind of matching up to. your description. of you know, you believe she doesn't. show remorse and this idea of the image. she's putting forward in the documentary. is not accurate. When you hear that from. somebody who was locked up with her, what are your thoughts? >> Um, I'm going to try not to get sad, but. so the only I try not to cry and get. upset especially in these interviews, but I had one with Jumpsuit Pablo.

like a week ago and like the only time. that I got upset I went to say. he had told me in the calls that like. she just doesn't show any remorse and my. thought was oh my god, she doesn't care. about my brother at all. She doesn't. feel bad. She doesn't think about him. and to me it's like he died like she. didn't even love him. You know what I'm. saying? He died for no reason and that. really just that. pulls my. heart out like that she just doesn't. care. You know what I'm saying? Like.

there's no. >> Yeah. >> anymore since since she was tried and. convicted and sentenced. It's never in. in all her calls or her actions. I I haven't gotten a letter of I miss. like nothing. You would have thought that she missed. him. You know, but he's not talked about. that she doesn't care whatsoever. So. that really it makes me feel like he. died for no reason. >> What did you observe from their. relationship? I mean in the documentary. she says they were very much in love. She was thinking about marrying him.

What did you observe of their. relationship? >> No. I my sister actually Nikki lived next. door to him while they were dating for. quite some time and. just like any narcissist and abuser. um. she very much hid that in front of. people. and he did share with. his his. very best friends like he did share. towards the end just that you know, he. was breaking up with her the last year. they had been broken up. He was seeing.

other people on and off. She was seeing. other people on and off. Um it was. nothing but toxicity. Um he was trying. to let her go. He was trying to move on. Um and she had nothing to She had. nothing to go for her. No job, no. career, no schooling. Like she had Dom, and that was it. And so I my you know, it's just she it was you're staying with. me. and or that's it. Um but I. I to me as a bigger sister, I'm 13 years.

older than him. I didn't really see much but the. isolation. She very much isolated him. It was always. you know, we're a very close family. Holidays, he's the the godfather of our. children. Um baptisms and every holiday. Um birthdays and. we're a very close, wonderful family. And um once she became involved, it was. all about her. Then it was you know, um. oh sorry, I can't make Easter because.

you know, we I have to go with Kenzie or. hey, I can't come bowling because. um. you know, Kenzie's not ready or I can't. meet you here today even though I was. supposed to meet you because uh can't. something came up with Kenzie. It was. like everything was about her. It's a. it's was it's a textbook narcissist. abuser. So. >> I I I do want to ask a little bit more. about Dom, you know, because I sometimes. we get in a position where we're. focusing so much on the crime, we think. so much about the defendant that we lose.

sight at times about who was taken away. Can you talk to us about what he was. like, what your relationship was like. with him? >> Um I was 13 years older than him, so. when he was born, he was like uh my. baby, you know, um. changed his diapers, >> Mhm. >> fed him, woke up in the middle of the. night with him, like taught him how to. walk, you know, had that relationship. And then as he got older, he was like, you know, my best pal. And when I.

started having my own babies, when I started um. having my own kids, >> [laughter]. >> sorry. >> You don't have to apologize. You don't. have to apologize. >> He. Yeah. Um. He uh. I don't know. He He was He was really. I can't talk anymore. >> It's okay. It's okay. >> He was a really good uncle.

And he was fun, and the kids loved him, and he loved us. But. um. >> [sighs and gasps]. >> Yeah, he was a um. He was a really good person, ambitious, funny, fun to be around. His. You could see now after he's passed, like how. this really affected. um so many people.

>> [clears throat]. >> Just goes to show how loved he was. >> Yep. I mean, that's what I see. That's. what I see from following this case, from seeing it universally loved. I. mean, this is it's such a special impact. on all of you, and. um you know, you get to see that. And I. also understand right now that you have. a special connection, a very strong. connection with Davian's uh Davian's. sister, right? I mean, can you talk to. us about that? Um because I also I also.

don't know what your relationship was. like with him um and his family. >> Um I had never met him, actually. >> Oh, wow. Okay. >> Um my dad just met him the day before. that this happened. He was like a newer. um. He was. I talked to Davine, and I recorded it on. my podcast, and it's on there. Um but. he was a football player, and then he. was injured. So, then he started hanging. out with a different group of friends. and that was my brother. So, he was more. of like a newer friend, um, but good.

friends. I unfortunately didn't get to. meet him, um, but after the fact, um, I've just felt. so much guilt, um, like if, you know, if it wasn't for. Dom, like or obviously I got I got to. stop thinking that cuz it was Kenzie who. did this, but I feel like he was if he. wasn't with my brother, then this. wouldn't have happened. Um, so I feel a. lot of guilt about that. I look at two. young sisters who lost their big. brother. Um, I feel the pain, so and I'm. very empathetic, so I can only imagine.

what they go through. Um, they were brought up in foster care, um, and that's they only had each other. So, like I couldn't imagine, you know, what they're going through. So, sitting and talking with her just. cuz we're going through the same thing, you know, two different families, but. we're going through the exact same. thing. So, it's nice to sit down and I don't know, I feel a super strong connection to her. She's amazing. Um, I just I love her. I. do. Scott's a real nice guy, Jamie. Um,

Delia, they're just really nice people. and I just my heart breaks. >> I mean, that's so great to hear. That's. so special. Um, before I wrap things up, I. just want to know how you're doing, Christine. How your family's doing right. now as you're trying to navigate, you. know, this next chapter with so much. attention. on this documentary and people, I'm. sure, having a lot of comments and. opinions, like you said. Just how are. you and your family doing right now?

>> Um, we're doing we there's no Somebody asked. me this the other day, too, and I'm. like, I don't we don't have a plan. Like. there's at the end of the day, Dom's still gone. So, um, this the hype. I've learned to to use the chaos to help. me get along with my grief, but like. just now as I broke down in tears, um it. hits you sometimes and you can't stop. it. So, it could be. randomly or it could be a song or I.

don't know, a feeling, but it hits us. all. We are not honestly, we're not. good. Um. none of us. We're all really, really. um sad all the time. Like he was a big. loss. He was a big part of our lives, so. uh we are not doing that great. >> Well, Christine, let me just say I'm so sorry. I'm really, really so sorry for what you. and your family are continuing to go. through. Um this shouldn't have. happened. Um I'm really wishing you the.

best of luck. I I and I I and I hope. that uh the Big Sister on Hinge podcast. and the support that you're getting will. help in some way and it's it's so great. to hear that you have this, you know, close relationship. um on the other [snorts] side with uh. the family that's going through the same. kind of thing and uh you know, I really. appreciate you taking the time to. explain how you're doing, your thoughts. on what's happening right now, and just. to talk a little bit more about uh your. brother. So, really appreciate your time. and uh thank you. >> Thanks, and I really appreciate you.

allowing me to express that and, you. know, using this platform to get, like I. said, my goal is to. battle the misinformation and, you know, keep Dom's Dom's legacy in a good spot. where it should be. So, I appreciate it. >> You got it. You got it. >> Thank you so much. >> And that's all we have for you right now. here on Sidebar, everybody. Thank you so. much for joining us and as always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple. Podcast, Spotify, wherever you should. get your podcast. You can also check us. out on NBC's [music] Peacock as well. If.

you want to follow me, X, Instagram, my. NewsNation show, Jesse Weber Live, 11:00. p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday. [music] I'll see you next time, everybody. >> Hey.