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Ohio teen Mackenzie Shirilla sentenced to 15 years to life

  • Authorities say Mackenzie Shirilla deliberately slammed car into wall
  • She was found guilty in connection to the deaths of her boyfriend, friend
  • Prosecutor: 'A senseless act has destroyed three lives and three families'

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(NewsNation) — An Ohio teenager was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after being found guilty of murder in connection with a crash that killed her boyfriend and another teenager inside her car.

Mackenzie Shirilla was found guilty earlier this month of four counts of murder in what prosecutors called an “intentional act.”

Shirilla was charged with 12 counts, including 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.

Shirilla did not testify during the trial, but tearfully read a statement apologizing to the families of the victims at the sentencing.

“I hope one day you can see I would never let this happen or do it on purpose,” she said. “I wish I could remember what happened. I’m just so sorry. I’m heartbroken. … I wish I could take all your pain away.”

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy Margaret Russo said during Monday’s sentencing hearing she decided to spare the defendant consecutive sentences in the two deaths, but didn’t believe Shirilla would get parole in 15 years. There’s a “very good likelihood” Shirilla could spend the rest of her life in prison, Nancy Margaret Russo said, depending on her conduct and the parole board’s decision.

Investigators say Shirilla, who was out for an early-morning drive with her boyfriend and another teenager in July of 2022, deliberately accelerated to 100 mph before slamming into a brick wall.

Prosecutors say the evidence showed Shirilla, only 17 years old at the time, never showed any signs of slowing down.

Shirilla’s boyfriend, 20-year-old Dominic Russo, and his friend 19-year-old Davion Flanagan, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosecutors argued the crash was intentional and was done to end Shirilla’s tumultuous relationship with Russo.

Nancy Margaret Russo announced the verdict, saying Shirilla’s actions were “not reckless driving,” but that it was murder.

“She took everyone in the car with her,” the judge said.

The defense, however, said the prosecution didn’t provide enough evidence to prove the crash was more than a “tragic accident.”

“It’s not clear, it’s not explicit to draw the inference she acted purposefully,” Shirilla’s attorney James McDonnell said.

But the judge disagreed, telling a local news outlet the final seconds of security footage were key in reaching a guilty verdict.

However, the father of Shirilla’s boyfriend said before the sentencing he didn’t want the teen to be sent to jail for life.

“I don’t want the rest of her life ruined, too. It isn’t going to make me feel any better,” Frank Russo told NBC News.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Crime

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