Jul 14, 2026 · 1 hr 10 min · 9 segments
For the first-ever three-way episode of *The Judgy Bitch Pod*, Paige joins me alongside Brittany from the *When Killers Get Caught* podcast to break down the controversial Mackenzie Shirilla case. We…
Here we go.
Ugh.
I know.
I know.
I know.
Where do we even start? Let me read first what's going on for bitch besties who haven't heard about the case, and then we can jump right in.
All right.
Here we go.
In the early morning of July 31st, 2022, 17-year-old Mackenzie Shurilla was driving a 2018 Toyota Camry in Strongsville, Ohio.
Her passengers were her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, who was in the front passenger seat, and their friend, Davion Flanagan, 19, who was sitting in the rear passenger side seat.
Around 5:30, the car accelerated down Alameda Drive, I think it's pronounced, reaching approximately 100 miles per hour before leaving the roadway and crashing into a commercial building.
The passenger side of the vehicle took the brunt of the impact, directly where both young men were seated.
Mackenzie Shurilla survived.
She suffered multiple broken bones, a severe traumatic brain injury, and other serious injuries, requiring extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation.
Investigators recovered data from the vehicle's event data recorder, which showed the accelerator remained fully depressed until impact, and there was no evidence that the brakes were applied before the crash.
Toxicology reports found no evidence that alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash.
Prosecutors argued the crash was intentional, alleging Shurilla deliberately drove into the building as a murder-suicide attempt, targeting herself and Dominic Russo.
To support the theory, they presented evidence, including text messages, phone records, and testimony describing a turbulent relationship between Shurilla and Russo in the days leading up to the crash.
The defense argued it was a tragic accident caused by reckless driving, noting Shurilla had a history of speeding and that there was no direct evidence, such as a confession or a suicide note, showing she intended to kill anyone.
Because Shurilla was 17 years old at the time, she was tried as an adult.
She waived her right to a jury trial, so the case was decided by a judge.
In August 2023, the judge found her guilty on all counts, including two counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
The judge concluded the evidence showed the crash was a calculated, deliberate act rather than an accident.
In September 2023, Shurilla was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
Here we go.
Ugh.
I know.
I know.
I know.
Where do we even start? Let me read first what's going on for bitch besties who haven't heard about the case, and then we can jump right in.
All right.
Here we go.
In the early morning of July 31st, 2022, 17-year-old Mackenzie Shurilla was driving a 2018 Toyota Camry in Strongsville, Ohio.
Her passengers were her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, who was in the front passenger seat, and their friend, Davion Flanagan, 19, who was sitting in the rear passenger side seat.
Around 5:30, the car accelerated down Alameda Drive, I think it's pronounced, reaching approximately 100 miles per hour before leaving the roadway and crashing into a commercial building.
The passenger side of the vehicle took the brunt of the impact, directly where both young men were seated.
Mackenzie Shurilla survived.
She suffered multiple broken bones, a severe traumatic brain injury, and other serious injuries, requiring extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation.
Investigators recovered data from the vehicle's event data recorder, which showed the accelerator remained fully depressed until impact, and there was no evidence that the brakes were applied before the crash.
Toxicology reports found no evidence that alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash.
Prosecutors argued the crash was intentional, alleging Shurilla deliberately drove into the building as a murder-suicide attempt, targeting herself and Dominic Russo.
To support the theory, they presented evidence, including text messages, phone records, and testimony describing a turbulent relationship between Shurilla and Russo in the days leading up to the crash.
The defense argued it was a tragic accident caused by reckless driving, noting Shurilla had a history of speeding and that there was no direct evidence, such as a confession or a suicide note, showing she intended to kill anyone.
Because Shurilla was 17 years old at the time, she was tried as an adult.
She waived her right to a jury trial, so the case was decided by a judge.
In August 2023, the judge found her guilty on all counts, including two counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
The judge concluded the evidence showed the crash was a calculated, deliberate act rather than an accident.
In September 2023, Shurilla was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
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