Mackenzie Shirilla’s father says daughter’s crash was not intentional

Mackenzie Shirilla, convicted of two life sentences for the 2022 crash that killed Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan, remains a focal point of public debate after her father, Steve Shirilla, appeared on a true‑crime podcast to argue she did not intend to kill anyone [3].

Key takeaways

• Steve Shirilla says his daughter’s actions were accidental, not premeditated [3].
• He argues that if Mackenzie had wanted to kill her boyfriend, she could have used a firearm rather than a car [3].
• The family points to a claimed medical condition, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), as a possible cause of the crash [1].
• Steve Shirilla was placed on administrative leave from his teaching job after his comments attracted media attention [2].
• The case continues to attract scrutiny following the release of Netflix’s documentary “The Crash” [1].

Father’s public defense and the “bizarre” reasoning

During an interview on the “True Crime This Week” podcast, Steve Shirilla told host James Renner that his 17‑year‑old daughter “didn’t do it on purpose,” emphasizing her remorse and suggesting the crash was not a deliberate murder [3]. He questioned the logic of the incident, stating that if Mackenzie truly wanted to kill her boyfriend Dominic Russo, she would have used one of the victim’s guns rather than crashing a car that also killed Davion Flanagan [3]. Steve’s comments echo the family’s earlier claims that a medical emergency—specifically POTS—might have caused Mackenzie to lose control of the vehicle, a diagnosis that has not been confirmed by medical records [1].

Fallout for the father’s career

Steve Shirilla, an art and digital media teacher at Mary Queen of Peace School in Cleveland, was placed on administrative leave after his statements about the case were publicized [2]. The school issued an email to parents indicating an investigation into alleged poor judgment on social media, emphasizing student safety while noting that details could not be shared during the active personnel review [2]. A parent interviewed by 19 News expressed sympathy for the teacher, noting that the administrative action stemmed from community backlash rather than any misconduct at the school [2].

Why it matters

The father’s outspoken defense adds another layer to a case already marked by conflicting narratives: prosecutors presented evidence of premeditation, the judge described the act as “controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional, and purposeful,” and the family maintains that a medical condition caused the tragedy [1]. Steve’s comments have reignited public interest, especially as Netflix’s documentary “The Crash” brings new viewers to the story. The ongoing administrative leave and the family’s continued legal challenges suggest the case will remain in the public eye, potentially influencing future discussions about teen driving, medical defenses, and media impact on legal proceedings.