Family of one of Mackenzie Shirilla's victims has scathing response to news her appeal was denied
Davion Flanagan's loved ones said Mackenzie Shirilla is putting the families of her victims 'through hell over and over again' with her ongoing appeal against her conviction.
The adoptive parents of the 19-year-old - who perished in a horror 2022 car crash alongside his friend Dominic Russo, 20 - slammed his killer's persistent attempts to gain her freedom.
In wake of a court's most recent ruling in regards to her incarceration, the Flanagan family told how they long for the day that 'all of her appeals will be exhausted'.
Shirilla, 21, was sentenced to 15 years to life in August 2023 after Judge Nancy Russo found that she had been intent on murdering her two passengers.
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The driver was described as 'literal hell on wheels' by the judge, while the court heard how her actions on 31 July, 2022, were 'controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional and purposeful'.
Despite Shirilla insisting she did not deliberately drive the 2018 Toyota Camry into a brick building at 100mph - leading to the deaths of Davion and Dominic - the families of her victims don't believe it was a tragic accident.
In the damning Netflix documentary The Crash, Davion's father Scott Flanagan appeared alongside one of his sisters, Davyne, to discuss the heartbreak that Shirilla's actions had caused them.
During the deadly driver's sentencing hearing, Davyne urged the judge to give Shirilla 'the longest possible sentence' for murdering her brother and Dominic.
In The Crash, she also branded the killer's attempt at an apology 'the worst she's ever heard in her life', telling viewers: "I know when someone's being fake or not, and that was not real."
Davion's mother Jaime also delivered a poignant statement during Shirilla's sentencing a few years back, where she reminded the then-teenager that her son 'is and always will be so much more than cargo' in the back of the car.
Battling through tears, the devastated mum said: "He was precious. He was an amazing soul with a heart of gold. He gave to the world what he wanted most in his own life - love.
"The kind of love that would rescue a friend in the middle of the night, no questions asked, the kind that would protect others and honour them.
"He made friends easily with his infectious smile, he was a gifted athlete, he had plans to go to barber school and open his own shop.
"The world lost a truly special man. My girls lost their best friend, their protector, the one and only trusted family [member] that has been by their side from day one."
At the age of 17 while being tried as an adult, Shirilla was found guilty of two counts of murder, felonious assault, aggravated vehicle homicide, drug possession, and criminal tools possession.
In the Netflix doc, it is stated that Shirilla had an appeal to overturn the conviction denied, but it does not explain the circumstances surrounding why - but it turns out she missed her chance by just 24 hours.
On 24 October, 2023, the criminal trial transcripts were filed, which gave the Ohio inmate 365 days to file her appeal. This was eventually completed on October 24, 2024.
However, as it was a leap year, it later emerged that the filing had been made one day late. Although Shirilla’s legal team asked for leniency in wake of the error, a court rejected this.
In March this year, the Ohio Courts of Appeal upheld the decision to dismiss the attempted appeal, saying in their decision: "Equitable arguments generally cannot overcome clear jurisdictional requirements."
Shirilla has appealed the decision to reject her petition to the Ohio Supreme Court, according to The Columbus Dispatch. She will next be up for parole in October of 2037.
In wake of the news that her bid for freedom had been turned down, the Flanagan family shared a brief statement on a GoFundMe page set up in honour of Davion.
The fundraiser was launched in tribute to the late teenager in 2023 to help raise money to 'create a memorial barber school scholarship fund in memory and honour' of him.
In an update shared on 3 April this year, Davion's loved ones explained the news of Shirilla’s appeal being rejected arrived 'he day after friends and family gathered to commemorate what would have been Davion’s 23rd birthday'.
Sharing their thoughts on the decision, the Flanagans wrote: "We cannot express how much we appreciate the prosecutors who faithfully took up this case and all of the subsequent appeals and fought for justice for Davion and Dominic. "We feel absolutely blessed to have been assigned such an intelligent, diligent and caring team to see this process through.
"With yet another appeal denied, we hope to finally be able to begin the healing process although it seems likely that Mackenzie still has other appeal options available to her.
"It is so very unfair that the two young men she murdered didn’t get a single chance to appeal her decision to drive 100mph into a brick wall, but Mackenzie can put the victims’ families through hell over and over again with appeal after appeal. It’s truly a nightmare that seemingly never ends," the post continued.
"One day, all her appeals will be exhausted and we can finally start the process of trying to accept this unimaginable loss without the constant threat of her release."
In another post shared a day earlier, the Flanagan's said they hoped they could 'have some time to try and heal from this awful ordeal'.
"With each new appeal, the wounds are reopened and we need to start the process all over again," it read. "It’s truly excruciating. All we want is to mourn the murder of our son knowing that the perpetrator must serve her full sentence.
"Nothing will ever make up for his loss, but knowing that earthly justice has been served is the best we can hope for."
Topics: Mackenzie Shirilla, Parenting, US News, Crime
Olivia Burke