Why Mackenzie Shirilla’s family believe she is innocent as teen serving life for murderous 100mph smash into wall

Mackenzie Shirilla’s family believe she is innocent after she was convicted of killing her boyfriend in a devastating car crash.

Aged 17 at the time, the high school student got behind the wheel of her 2018 Toyota Camry and drove into the Plidco Building in Ohio at upwards of 100 mph on 31 July 2022.

In the passenger seats were her boyfriend of four years, Dominic Russo, 20, and his friend Davion Flanagan, 19, who were declared dead at the scene.

Shirilla was guilty of all 12 charges against her, including murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, felonious assault and drug possession during a 2023 trial.

Prosecutors proved that Shirilla intentionally crashed her car as a premeditated murder plot driven by a highly toxic, volatile relationship with her boyfriend.

Shirilla was 'on a mission' to kill Russo because their relationship had deteriorated and he had threatened to break up with her.

Investigators said she chose to orchestrate the fatal crash to prevent Russo from leaving her under the mindset that if she could not have him, no one would.

Now aged 21, she is serving 15 years to life in prison at Ohio Reformatory for Women.

Family believe Shirilla is innocent

Mackenzie Shirilla’s family believe she is innocent (Netflix)

Shirilla's father Steve told NBC News on Thursday that 'we believe she’s been falsely accused of something'.

"We believe there’s no evidence," he said.

"There’s no evidence that you can show me that says prior calculation, intent, there’s nothing.

"I don’t know how it left the juvenile court. There’s zero evidence. All the prosecution has that’s factual is five seconds of black box information."

Steve suggested that his daughter should have been charged with vehicular homicide.

Shirilla was sentenced to life in prison with first eligibility for parole after 15 years (Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office)

Natalie Shirilla, her mother, added: "Look at the evidence critically and objectively, and you will see there is no evidence of intent. She never threatened his life, his physical life.

“I will never, ever, never stop. There is no expiration on truth.

“Mackenzie would never hurt them or anybody she loves

“She stands up for people that are in trouble or struggling. That’s who she is.”

Shirilla's first interview from prison

Shrilla gave her first in-prison interview (Netflix)

Shirilla has given her first-ever interview from prison in new Netflix true crime documentary The Crash.

“I’ve never spoke before and I’ve never told my side of the story. I understand there’s many different sides to the story and different perspectives, but I just wanna say my truth. I just know myself, and I know I’m not a monster,” she said.

“I just want to make sure I’m big on the no intent,” Shirilla added.

“There was no intent whatsoever. 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.”

The Crash is available to watch on Netflix now.