Mackenzie Shirilla’s text messages to boyfriend Dominic Russo have resurfaced following the release of Netflix documentary The Crash, revealing explosive arguments, breakup threats and disturbing exchanges in the months before the fatal 100mph crash that killed him.
Mackenzie Shirilla slammed her Toyota Camry into a brick wall in Strongsville, Ohio, in July 2022, just days before her 18th birthday. Her boyfriend, 20-year-old Dominic Russo, and their friend, 19-year-old Davion Flanagan died in the crash.
Shirilla was convicted over the deaths of Russo and Flanagan after prosecutors argued she deliberately drove her car into the wall.
She was sentenced in 2023 to two concurrent life sentences with the possibility of parole after 15 years after being convicted on 12 felony charges, including murder, aggravated vehicular homicide and felonious assault.
Texts reveal bitter relationship fights
According to The US Sun, investigators reviewed roughly 93,000 texts sent between January 2020 and July 30, 2022. The messages reportedly formed part of a 31,000-page case file.
The messages revealed an explosive relationship between Shirilla and Russo. One argument from January 25, 2022, showed Shirilla threatening to end the relationship.
“You realize I’m just gonna go get a sugar daddy and start selling feet pics and I’m gonna be doing just fine so this is really your last chance to hand write me an apology or fix this or we’re really done.”
“I’m giving you 10 minutes starting now,2 she wrote.
Russo replied:
“Ok go get some fake love thats short lived.”
He later added:
“A suggar daddy? I don’t get how youve come to this. I rly do love u idc how tough or relationship is im commitment rn (sic).”
Shirilla then responded:
“I don’t see you typing a paragraph long apology right now like I’m serious you only have five minutes left till you’re single.”
Messages referenced money and sex work allegations
Other messages included arguments involving money, “sugar daddies” and allegations connected to sex work.
In one March 2022 exchange, Russo accused Shirilla of accepting money involving sexual activity.
“Yea u let a dude f*** your feet for money like 6 months ago. That should be even fr,” he wrote.
Shirilla replied:
“We were broken up. LMAOOOAOO.”
The argument continued, with Russo claiming:
“We were broken up when i did sh**.”
Shirilla responded:
“We were broken up and it was feet LMAOA once again THEN leave.”
Another exchange from June 2022 saw Russo accuse her of becoming a prostitute, something Shirilla denied.
“We were broken up and it was just my feet do you think about it more than I think about it,” she wrote.
Police examined alleged sex offense claims
The messages were later referenced in a Strongsville Police Department report titled Outcome: Suspected Sex Offenses.
According to investigators featured in the documentary, authorities examined whether Shirilla had been forced into unwanted sexual activity.
“The purpose of the investigation into suspected sex offenses committed by Mackenzie was for the purpose of confirming or dispelling the possibility of Mackenzie having been victimized and forced into committing unwanted sex acts,” investigators said.
Authorities ultimately concluded the messages suggested the acts had been voluntary.
Shirilla has continued to maintain her innocence and says she cannot remember the crash. Her appeal was previously rejected, though her legal team has said it continues pursuing additional legal options.
READ MORE:
- Ex-inmate reveals what Mackenzie Shirilla is really like in prison
- Major update on Mackenzie Shirilla’s potential parole release amid Netflix doc
