Hell On Wheels teenage girl sobs. Murdered friend was ‘soul mate’ would never kill on purpose

The now 19-year-old teenager sobbed through her handwritten statement and insisted she never intentionally killed her “soulmate,” 20-year-old boyfriend Dominic Russo. She also claimed she wished I could remember what happened on the day of the fatal accident.

Shirilla, who did not testify at the trial, read her brief statement just before the judge announced her verdict.

“The families of Dominic and Davion, I am deeply sorry. I hope that one day you will be able to see that I would never let that happen or do it on purpose. I wish I could remember what happened,” Shirilla said.

“We were all friends and Dom was my soulmate,” the teen continued. “I wish I could take away all your pain. And thank you to my family for all the support and love you give each other. I love you all so much.”

Shirilla faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars, with judge Nancy Margaret Russo (no relation to victim Dominic Russo) saying she believes the parole board will extend the teenager’s sentence.

The verdict was announced on Monday afternoon in Cleveland, Ohio. Cameras in the courtroom filmed the distressed young woman as her crimes and sentences were read out.

Family members of the two victims urged Judge Russo to order the two consecutive life sentences – with Shirilla serving a maximum of 30 years of life imprisonment.

“I understand that the pain in this room drives me to impose the harshest sentence,” the judge said. “But I don’t think that would be an appropriate sentence because I do believe Mackenzie won’t be out in 15 years.”

Shirilla was charged with four counts of murder, four counts of aggravated assault, aggravated road traffic homicide, drug possession and possession of criminal tools in the July 2022 deaths of Dominic Russo, 20, and Davion Flanagan, 19.

Last week, she was found guilty on all charges in a Cuyahoga County common pleas court.

More information on the case is below.