Suvechha Sarkar
In the early morning of July 31, 2022, a devastating car crash in Strongsville, Ohio, sent shockwaves through the entire community. It brought the lives of two young individuals, Dominic Anthony Russo and Davion Markel Flanagan, to a sudden halt, leaving their families grief-stricken. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Mean Girl Murders: Under the Influence’ delves deeper into the details regarding the crash and the investigation that revealed the complexities of teenage relationships and the fatal consequences of reckless decisions. It also features interviews with their loved ones and an official related to the case.
Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan Were Two Ambitious Young Men With Bright Futures
Dominic Anthony Russo was born on September 24, 2001, and arrived as a ray of sunshine in the lives of his parents, Christine and Frank Russo. He grew up surrounded by the love and support of his parents and his beloved siblings — Angelo, Christopher, Christine, Nicole, Michael, and Frank. He was humorous and often described by his friends and family as “smart” and “goal-oriented.” After graduating from Strongsville High School in Ohio, he dabbled in entrepreneurial ventures. In 2022, at just 20 years old, he was living in an adjacent house to his parents, which had a recording studio. Moreover, Dominic had opened his own clothing line besides immersing himself in investments like Bitcoins and stocks. During junior year, he met Mackenzie Shirilla, and they soon began dating.
Around three years into their relationship, Mackenzie was almost living with Dominic at his house, and they often invited friends over to spend time. One of Dominic’s friends was Davion Markel Flanagan. Born on March 11, 2013, Davion arrived as a beacon of light in the lives of his parents, Scott and Jaime Flanagan. He grew up in a loving household surrounded by his parents’ support and his sisters, Davyne Isabella and Dalia Rose. Davion was a kind-hearted individual who was known for his infectious smile. He was passionate about football, and during his senior year at Strongsville High School, he played as a starting running back. He was a big fan of the Mustangs Football team and aspired to attend barber school. His lifelong dream was to open doors to his own shop in the future.
Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan’s Night of Memories Ended in a Fatal Car Crash
Both Dominic and Davion loved writing music and often immersed themselves in the art. They spent time together at Dominic’s music studio, where Davion usually rapped. However, their life came to an abrupt halt on July 31, 2022. Mackenzie had just graduated from high school, and on the previous day, the three of them drove to their friend’s house. After spending around 20-30 minutes there, they got out and drove to another of their friend, Paul’s house, where they fell asleep. At about 5:15 am on July 31, they had set out to return home with Mackenzie in the driver’s seat. Unfortunately, the car hit a building, leading to a devastating car crash at the intersection of Progress Drive and Alameda Drive in Strongsville, Ohio.
Around 6:15 am, officials responded to a call regarding a car crash. Upon arrival, they found a black Toyota Camry with several shattered pieces. The checking of the number plate determined the owner to be Mackenzie. Police found her in the driver’s seat, still alive, and she was rushed to the hospital. Although Davion was reportedly alive when they found him, he passed away before medical help arrived. However, they found Dominic deceased inside because the impact of the crash was more on the passenger side. Officials also discovered a digital scale and psilocybin mushrooms in the car. The medical examiner determined Dominic and Davion’s cause of death to be multiple blunt force injuries, consistent with a high-impact vehicle collision.
Dominic and Davion’s Deaths Were Uncovered as a Deliberate Accident by Someone They Knew
When Mackenzie was questioned after her treatment, she claimed to have blacked out and alleged that she did not remember anything. Officials suspected reckless driving under the influence, but the toxicology report showed no signs of alcohol in her blood. However, they found tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a compound found in marijuana. It indicated that she was smoking marijuana. Surveillance footage that reportedly captured the location showed that around 5:34 am, Mackenzie had made a deliberate right-hand turn with her car blinkers on and applying brakes when necessary. Investigators found that to be inconsistent with an individual who might have been under the influence of THC. Detectives discovered that Mackenzie was supposedly popular in her high school as the “mean girl” and aspired to be an influencer.
Investigators found a list of names whom she and her friends had allegedly hurt. They believed it could have earned her some enemies, who might have tampered with the car. What solidified their suspicion was that another CCTV footage that captured the car crash showed no brake lights were on. It meant Mackenzie had not pressed the brakes before the vehicle hit the building at almost 100 mph. However, experts reportedly found that every part of the car was in perfect condition and nothing had been tampered with. In the weeks following the crash, detectives noted that Mackenzie actively began updating her social media regarding the accident, helping her gain followers. In the following months, Dominic’s mother informed the police that after Mackenzie moved in with Dominic, she had become controlling.
According to reports, Dominic’s mother said he took her to school and was responsible for her entertainment and vacations. By spring 2022, their relationship was reportedly strained, which was proven by a video that Dominic had made in which Mackenzie threatened him to gain access to his house. Dominic’s mother reportedly informed that two weeks prior, he had called her stating that he was in the car with Mackenzie, and she was allegedly driving the vehicle erratically and threatening to crash it. Officials tracked Mackenzie’s cell phone activity and discovered that she was present at the accident’s location three days prior to the incident. They deduced that the car crash was done purposefully. On November 4, 2022, Mackenzie was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated murder, along with 10 more counts.
Mackenzie Shirilla Has Been Brought to Justice and is Currently Serving Her Sentence
The bench trial of Mackenzie Shirilla began on August 7, 2023. She faced four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, one count of drug possession, one count of possessing criminal tools, and two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. The prosecution reportedly argued that she accelerated her vehicle to nearly 100 mph and never pressed the brakes before crashing into the building. They reportedly asserted that her plan stemmed from her tumultuous relationship with Dominic, which allegedly threatened the loss of her popularity. On the other hand, the defense claimed that Mackenzie had no criminal history and had no intention to kill anyone.
The defense alleged that Mackenzie had blacked out after hitting her head and could not recall the crash. Ultimately, on August 14, 2023, the bench found her guilty on all 12 counts. The Court concluded that she purposefully caused the deaths, with the judge reportedly stating that the accident was “controlled,” “methodical,” and “deliberate.” On August 21, 2023, Mackenzie was sentenced to two concurrent 15 years to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years. She also received 0.58 years each for possession of drugs and possession of criminal tools to be served concurrently. Mackenzie’s first parole hearing is set to happen in September 2037, with her expected parole eligibility date being October 29, 2037.
After the trial, Mackenzie appealed her conviction on the grounds of alleged insufficient evidence to prove intent, trial errors in evidentiary rulings, and improper transfer from juvenile to adult court. However, on September 26, 2024, the Appellate Court upheld her conviction on all counts, finding no errors in the bench trial or evidence. Following that, her defense team sought review from the Ohio Supreme Court. However, the Court declined to hear the case, reportedly upholding the Appellate Court’s decision. In May 2025, a subsequent appeal for a new trial was sent, but it was denied. Presently, Mackenzie is serving her sentence at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio.
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