November 22, 2023 • 26 mins
That's A Crime
Episode 70: Teen Kills Boyfriend And Friend In High Speed Car Crash (2022)
Jason Connell and Sal Rodriguez break down the true crime story of the Teen Kills Boyfriend And Friend In High Speed Car Crash in 2022. On July 31, 2022, in Strongsville, OH, 19-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla was driving at a speed of 100 mph when the car crashed and killed her boyfriend, 20-year-old Dominic Russo, and his friend, 19-year-old Davion Flanagan.
Recorded: 10-13-23
Studio: Just Curious Media
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jason Connell (00:01):
Whoa, just curious. Welcome to Just curious
media. This is that's a crime.
I'm Jason Connell.
Sal Rodriguez (00:10):
And I'm Sal Rodriguez.
Jason Connell (00:12):
All right sound we are back with another
episode. A crime. Sorry, anothercrime.
Sal Rodriguez (00:19):
Yeah, a crime with some some tragedies here.
Jason Connell (00:22):
There are some tragedies. Yes, that is true.
Because today we're breakingdown the True Crime Story of the
team kills boyfriend and friendand high speed car crash in
2022. It's a tough one. Nodoubt.
Sal Rodriguez (00:38):
It is, you know, young people, especially, you
know, they got their whole lifeahead, all that potential, all
the possibilities cut down.
Jason Connell (00:46):
And it is very sad. In fact, as I was going
over the notes, and we talkedbefore, and then I was fine
tuning it. I couldn't help butthink of a cousin I lost in a
car crash teenager, she was theoldest of all the grandkids.
Bridget, Bridget Kenny rest inpeace. But she was so young 18 I
(01:07):
think it was I don't know allthe details. I was younger than
her like a year and a half. Butit was Iraq, the family to the
core right? Out joy riding andshe was not driving and got
like, the car kind of swerved.
And she was ejected out of thevehicle and hit a tree and was
in a coma for a few days. Iremember and it was just and
(01:30):
then finally she passed. And itwas like, Oh my gosh, it's so
surreal. We went to the funeral.
And it was like, she went to adifferent high school than us.
And it was just like, you go toa young person's funeral. And
that's just its own thing. It'shundreds and hundreds of kids.
Just everyone's you know, besidethemselves. So yeah, I remember
(01:53):
it vividly. So that comes tomind because we lose to teens,
it's definitely on the darkerside. And so preventable. You
know, like, it's everything'spreventing this from happening.
But yet, this tragedy
Sal Rodriguez (02:06):
happens. Well, we're gonna get to a little a
little tidbit at the very endthat I'm gonna want to clarify
and speak on, because I think itspeaks a lot on how this whole
thing went down as we get intothe details on it.
Jason Connell (02:18):
Yeah. So oddly enough, this date coincides with
my birthday, which is also veryweird as I read this crime, but
on July 31 2022, inStrongsville, Ohio, 19 year old
Mackenzie Srila was driving at aspeed of 100 miles an hour,
which caused a car crash leadingto the untimely deaths of her
(02:43):
boyfriend, 20 year old DominicRusso and his friend 19 year old
Davion Flanagan. So here's teensand 120 year old shrill is
driving 100 miles an hour, giveor take, probably over and has a
(03:04):
car crash and a driving 100 isnever a good idea. In fact, I'm
always curious why cars even goto these limits. Unless it's for
a special person or purpose likea police officer or an
ambulance. It's like, you know,it's there. You know why people
drive facile because they can?
Sal Rodriguez (03:23):
Sure, yeah, if the road is open, you'll
probably take it i i have hit100 A couple of times out there
on the open road, just to kindof see what it felt like. Sure.
We've all done that. But yeah, Iwas out there on the open road,
it would never occur to me to goanything above 50 in the city,
right?
Jason Connell (03:42):
Well, the tragic incident occurred around 5:30am
at the manufacturing plantlocated in Strongsville progress
drive business park. So this islike a business park. All these
things are they're probably notan error. You want to be driving
fast, right? Srila lost controlof her vehicle, careened off a
(04:04):
sign and crashed into a BrickWarehouse resulting in the
fatalities to Russo andFlanagan. And, yeah, it's like,
okay, you're going way too fast.
You can't make good decisions orreflexes, just a car can't
correct itself out of these highspeeds, Korean off the sign into
a Brick Warehouse. And moreoften than not salads, you know,
(04:27):
the passengers are truly atrisk. You know, more so often
than the drivers and thisespecially the passenger in the
seat next to the driver. That'slike the worst spot the I'm
assuming that Flanagan was inthe backseat. I don't know for
sure making that assumption. Butyeah, really bad. And we have a
(04:47):
lot of details to get throughbecause this also happened in
2022 in the summer, and there'salready been a trial. So this is
this isn't a brand new crime.
Sal Rodriguez (04:58):
Yeah. And the interesting thing is, I think at
first listen You're gonna thinkit was an accident. Well, surely
this was an accident, right? Butyeah, talk about going dark.
It's pretty brutal when you hearhow it was conceived and
described and as far asresponsibility level of
responsibility and premeditationeven.
Jason Connell (05:18):
Absolutely, yeah, there's a lot of debate, but we
have the facts, and we'll sharethem now. Now Shrila, was
arrested in November 2022 andhad a $5,000 bond and stayed in
custody to out her trial. Andduring the trial, Assistant
Cuyahoga County prosecutor, Timtroop, argued that Cerrillos
(05:42):
actions that morning, weredriven by a sinister motive. He
suggested that the crash was dueto a deteriorating relationship
with Russo, which had turnedsour in the weeks leading up to
the incident. These are youngpeople sow and Relationships are
(06:04):
hard on anybody, but especiallyin this age group, and now it's
530 in the morning, and yeah, Imean, there's definitely
something amiss if not drugs,and alcohol, something else and
then troop goes on to say thefollowing Davian
Sal Rodriguez (06:20):
was just cargo.
Whatever she had in for DominicFlanagan was just along with his
friend and got sucked into atoxic relationship, and just got
in the wrong seat that night.
Jason Connell (06:32):
So sad, horrible,
Sal Rodriguez (06:33):
Wrong place, wrong time, wrong people.
Jason Connell (06:36):
And if they have this beef going on, it's yeah,
that's he is collateral damage.
It's like, hey, Debian we'regonna talk now. And then maybe
you have to work something out.
But yeah, he's just in thissituation thinking, not that
it's not any worse for Rousseau.
But he really is just, as trueputs it, cargo.
Sal Rodriguez (06:57):
Sure. A third wheel, third wheel.
Jason Connell (07:00):
So prosecutors said one of their strongest
pieces of evidence was a briefvideo, which we do not have. So
we do not have this video from acity owned security cameras
showing shriller using her turnsignal, and slowly turning her
car from Pearl road on toAlameda drive. So I guess that's
showing that she'll follow therules in one instance, and
(07:25):
another drive crazy andhaphazardly and you know, I
guess that's the what they'repointing to here.
Sal Rodriguez (07:33):
Yeah, Jason, I did see the video. Actually, it
did. Yeah, I don't think thatwhat the video shows, I would
think so incriminatingnecessarily, to prove intent.
But what you see is you see herslowly and very normally,
consciously. Yeah, making aright turn, putting her blinker
on everything seems quitenormal. And then another camera
(07:53):
catches the car of only a fewseconds later, and she's going
straight at it says 100 miles anhour. So in a period of just a
few seconds, you see it,something happens between that
safe turn her head towards thisbrick wall. Yeah. And that's,
that's the case, what happenedin those few moments and why
Jason Connell (08:14):
I got you. And it doesn't necessarily mean this is
malicious, or I'm gonna do this,but you've now you know, you've
changed the situation, you'respeeding, you're probably
provoked, your feelings arehappening. It may not be to
crash. But then at some point atthese higher speeds, you lose
control. And not just her Imean, in anybody who's in a car
(08:38):
going way too fast. You mightjust be out joy riding, you
might just be a little buzzed.
But bad things happen when youget over a certain threshold.
These aren't racecar drivers.
Sal Rodriguez (08:51):
No, I was just gonna say that. I mean, you'd
have to be a pro driver to knowCorrado operate speeds. Yeah,
Jason Connell (08:56):
even going slower those speeds like Hey, I hit a
slick spot there and I'm going30 And I felt everything jar
Well, times that you know, timesthree, you're going 90. And that
swerve, you don't come out ofit. You don't. And that's what
happens. And they're young, andthey don't think that you just
think oh yeah, you know, pedaland now some cars behave
(09:17):
different than others. So yes,this is interesting. So I didn't
see the video, but thanks forshedding light on that.
Sal Rodriguez (09:24):
And it's very early in the morning, Jason 530.
You're assuming three people intheir late teens at 530 in the
morning. Were they going towork? No. Where are they coming
from work? No. So that appliesthere. Yeah, they were they were
at partying all night. Pa
Jason Connell (09:39):
night sleep all day that you were gonna hit
that. I don't know the carry outhere. Okay. So, Cuyahoga County
Common Pleas Court Judge NancyMargaret Rousseau no relation to
one of our victims. DominiqueRousseau said the following. She
Sal Rodriguez (10:00):
Morse more responsible driver to literal
hell on wheels as she makes herway down the street. Mackenzie
alone made the decision to drivethe car to drive an obscure
route, a route she visited a fewdays before and a route not
routinely taken by her. She hada mission and she executed it
with precision. That decisionwas deaf. This was not reckless
(10:21):
driving. This was murder. Andthis is the judge. Oh, wow.
Yeah, that's pretty intense. Sothis judge is not declaring any
doubt at all. She believes thatshe committed cold blooded
murder, and she's
Jason Connell (10:34):
trying to kill everybody. Self included. I'm
assuming that's the judges.
Okay. We
Sal Rodriguez (10:39):
don't know. We don't know the details for who
was wearing seatbelts. Wasanybody wearing a seatbelt?
Jason Connell (10:43):
Yeah. But if you're if this is her statement,
she's not you know, she'stalking about McKinsey. It is
McKinsey Srila. We're using lastnames. But it's not like I'm
going to drive so fast. I'mgoing to offer these two she's
probably thinking we're all inparallel here. We're all going
down.
Sal Rodriguez (10:59):
Okay, so that leads me more to what I want to
talk about as we go even furtherdown the road. Sure. So
Jason Connell (11:04):
troop, and that would be prosecutor troop
further emphasize that crash,investigators meticulously
examined the car's computersystem. And we don't know the
type of car sale by the way, orwe
Sal Rodriguez (11:17):
don't, we don't in fact, this is very
interesting information,forensic vehicular information I
never knew about now, I'mwondering if all cars have these
computers where you can kind ofit's like the equivalent of a
black box on a plane. Exactlythe recording. I never knew
about this,
Jason Connell (11:34):
especially. And that's what I was thinking. When
I started to read this, I wasthinking more newer car. This is
obviously not like a classic,something newer with a computer
system, some of these OnStar, orwhatever. So this analysis
revealed that the acceleratorpedal had been fully pressed
down during the four secondsleading up to the crash, with no
(11:57):
evidence of the brake beingapplied. Moreover, the car's
computer data indicated atapproximately five seconds
before the collision, thesteering wheel abruptly veer to
the right, and then swiftly tothe left. So it is fascinating.
The only time saw that I saw anyof this data in one of my
(12:18):
vehicles was with progressive.
My insurance provider, carinsurance, they sent me a little
thing that I plug into my car,and it tracks how you drive for
six months, and you can get alower rating. Whoa, means it's
cheaper thing. So I did it.
Well, I'm a very cautiousdriver, meaning it's looking for
(12:39):
heartbreaks are looking forexcessive acceleration. Yeah.
And I got like the top scorebecause I don't drive that way.
Now, sometimes you might have toelude something. Right, sir. So
many of those. It's not like youcan't have any. But
Sal Rodriguez (12:55):
if you did want is to create a profile, a
driving profile profile,
Jason Connell (12:59):
you need a lot of data. And then I even drove
cross, not cross country, butdefinitely like five states
away. And I did great. Butoccasionally someone cuts in
your lane, and you got to do alittle bit harder for Brady to
go BBB BBB. And I was like,gosh, I don't want to score it
would notify you that no. Oh,the only thing I didn't like
about it. I was hyper aware ofit. Yeah. And then you're even
(13:22):
more cautious and I didn't likethat. But knowing that that
could happen. A lot of thesecars probably are just sucking
that data in passively. WhatYeah,
Sal Rodriguez (13:31):
well, I'm imagining a Tesla. I would
imagine a Tesla is doing thisinherently right now.
Jason Connell (13:37):
Right. Exactly.
So shrill is Attorney JimMcDonnell suggested the
possibility that Srila mighthave been driving recklessly and
then attempted to evade thecrash at the 11th hour as she
approached the progress driveintersection. That was their
defense. Obviously, we know whatthe judge thought that didn't go
(13:58):
over with her so well. Now,again, it's a sad, but we have
to show our respects. And youknow, I wish we knew more about
our victims that passed awayDominic Russo and Davion
Flanagan, they were bothdeclared dead at the scene wash
Marilla was found unconscious.
Sal Rodriguez (14:20):
How did she get so lucky to survive this very
same crash?
Jason Connell (14:25):
I know. It's, this is what happens though.
Sometimes. You know, often Iread, you know the driver. This
has happened, Sal. I know. Ihaven't had a sports crime in a
while. And I don't mean like theact of someone from sports. An
athlete we've done some, infact, there's one coming later
in this episode. But more oftenthan not, I hear so many times
(14:45):
that an athlete to peopledriving, they roll their car,
they're tired, they've had a fewdrinks, they walk away whoever
was with them, another athleteis killed. It's more often than
I even want to share. So, youknow, you got the steering
wheel, that side of the car isprobably a lot more built. It's
(15:08):
terrible. And we don't know whatwas in her mind. Was she like,
yeah, it could have been allthese factors. Intent, oh my
gosh, what have I done, butyou've already put this in
motion. And then you know,listen, she definitely deserves
to be punished, no doubt, butshe's a person. And I'm finding
out that these two peopleperished because of what she did
(15:30):
her actions. She'll never shakethat. So I mean, that's just,
it's it's just compounded bysadness. Well,
Sal Rodriguez (15:37):
Jason, I did see a video clip of her in court. I
believe it was at sentencing.
And she appears now I say this,you know, I'm an actor. I've
taken drama and theater, I canusually see through people's
facades, usually, her remorseseem genuine. She was doing a
really good job of showinggrieving and remorse in the
courtroom. I did believe it.
Jason Connell (16:00):
Okay. I think she cared for this. Her boyfriend is
her boyfriend and his friend,you're gonna feel a lot of
guilt, especially as time goeson. This was July 31 2022. She's
in jail in November the trialsprobably 2023 you've had time to
reflect, right? Like, oh mygosh, I've really ruined my life
(16:24):
or changed my life. I've ruinedtwo other lives and their
families and their friends andit's it's a heavy, heavy burden.
While Srila was found guilty offour counts of felonious assault
and two counts of aggravatedvehicular homicide. But Sal,
there's even more to that.
Sal Rodriguez (16:45):
Yes. Shula also faces charges of drug possession
and possession of criminaltools. These charges stemmed
from the discovery of a smallbag of psychedelic mushrooms,
and a scale in her jacket.
Pocket. Jason, as soon as Ilearned of this crime, as soon
as I learned of the incident,the horrific tragedy. The first
thing was, I bet they were onsome sort of psychedelic hmm, I
(17:08):
bet that she was probably on LSDor something. I thought that
because especially after I sawher in the courtroom, I did
believe her remorse. So Ithought this was a horrible drug
induced. She probably wentpsychotic, probably thought she
could drive through the wall.
Wow, we've long heard stories,people can take psychedelics and
(17:30):
have a wonderful time, or theycan take psychedelics and jump
out the window, you know, so Ithink she was on a bad trip. And
unfortunately, the ultimateconsequence is human tragedy. So
I think that's what happened. Ithink she was messed up on
mushrooms, couldn't handle it,went kind of nuts, crashed the
car, killed her boyfriend killedthe friend, and will have to
live that down the rest of herlife.
Jason Connell (17:49):
Wow, you were spot on there. Now. I don't know
if there was an autopsy. Thereprobably was. But I don't know
if any of this was in Rousseauand Flanagan system, no talk of
finding drugs on them. It wasdefinitely on her. But this does
seem to be the case here.
Obviously, things weren't addingup. And this definitely fills in
(18:10):
some of the blanks and the judgehad this information, all the
more reason that she has thatstance. Now shirtless conviction
carries an automatic lifesentence behind bars with no
chance of parole for 15 years.
It's kind of 1930 but 15 years.
Yeah, so
Sal Rodriguez (18:31):
34 it if she gets parole is she'll be 34 Right?
Jason Connell (18:34):
So 34 still a young person but forever
changed,
Sal Rodriguez (18:39):
and a felon, right coming out of prison. 34
years old as a felon,
Jason Connell (18:44):
and you're never going to shake what you did.
Sal Rodriguez (18:47):
Right? Well, you would have to change your name.
I think people do that. Right.
Well, I don't know. I thinkpeople do that. I mean, it's
saying
Jason Connell (18:53):
you can't avoid yourself.
Sal Rodriguez (18:55):
You're no no of course you have to lay your head
down at night. But I mean, asfar as I do believe that there
are people to protect theiranonymity go into it's not
witness protection, but they dochange their name interesting.
Jason Connell (19:06):
Yeah. So that's a it's a dark one, you know, very
tough crime. These arecautionary tales. All of these
to me are cautionary tales, verypreventable. And I wish cars as
smart as they are doing all thisdata. You did this You did this
to this. I'm a huge proponentfor autonomous cars situation
(19:29):
like this. You know, you can'tHey, speed it up their
autonomous car, not going tohappen or assessing you as AI
gets smarter and being like,you're in no condition to drive
and just lock it up. We'reprobably not that far removed
from things like thatpreventative. You know care to
avoid these because it is veryavoidable ours. Your
(19:52):
calculations don't add up. Whyare we going 100 in this parking
area, and the car overrides you.
I know that sounds like big bro.
Other talking at the same time,I'm telling you, it would
eliminate a lot of these typesof problems and the other crime
we're going to talk aboutshortly. But still, there's no
getting back the two victims. Sorest in peace, Dominic Russo,
(20:16):
Davey and Flanagan rest of one'sfamily. Very, very tough and
Srila. I mean, Mackenzie, surelyyou'll have time to evolve,
you're young. That's the onlygood thing about this. You're
going in so young, and you canreally build your life, you're
still figuring out who you are.
Now, maybe you can choose adifferent path in life and come
(20:37):
out of this contributing tosociety and not being a
detriment to yourself and thosearound you. Yeah,
Sal Rodriguez (20:47):
I mean, for her life, to just go completely
downhill from this point, wouldbe of no service to anyone. So
yeah, the best thing is for herto pull herself together, do her
time, and come out a betterperson, an evolved person, and
maybe help people who were alsovictimized or perpetrated things
(21:07):
like this. In other words, yourstory can help other people.
Jason Connell (21:12):
Absolutely. And that covers the True Crime Story
of the team kills boyfriend andfriend and high speed car crash
in 2022. And so something we'vebeen doing on recent episodes is
spotlighting an episode from thepast of our that's a Crime
Library. And we've been kind ofgoing back and forth you pick
(21:33):
one I pick one and so I pickedone but it's not necessarily a
lighter crime. We have a greathit list of crimes to choose
from, but I stayed on pointbecause I figured it would as
you said, hammer the point homeeven more and I left this
episode, writing it now talkingabout it with you and performing
it if you will. Even more somberlike Gosh, man can't we just
(21:57):
learn from this and less victimsin the world and I chose episode
19 Henry rugs the third fatalcar crash in 2021. He was a
prominent NFL wide receiver inhis rookie season for the Las
Vegas Raiders, gets in a car hashis girlfriend. Top of the World
(22:20):
cell. This is truly anothercautionary tale. In Vegas, he's
driving on the street is a fancycar he's got is going 100 I
believe it's 130 130 comes upbehind someone can't react. This
is what happens not going ateven at Spass owl 130 and just
(22:43):
plows into this poor victim andher dog. And this is like
hitting me so hard. And it'sTina tinter and her dog Max.
That car goes up in flames. Theyperish. Rugs pulls over he's
distraught. They both live himand his girlfriend. He's in
(23:03):
prison NFL career over we have avictim and a dog to victims. And
yeah, and he I don't even I knowI followed it for a while. I
know he's still in jail. I thinkhe's been sentenced. But it's
just like there's no good thatcomes out of this. He was
literally like having this greatseason. And not that that's
important. But he didn't havemalicious intent. He just had a
(23:27):
bad decision. And a bad decisionhas consequences. When you have
seen or heard judgment andpaired judgment. It hurts me
like very viscerally like in mystomach. I'm like, gosh, it's
just it's so preventable. It'snot just some accident. Like I
didn't see the light and I youknow we recently did the treat
(23:47):
Williams episode where he waskilled on his motorcycle. But,
you know, the person tried tolike, pull in front of him and
he had some still terrible, butit's more of a you know, a
normal moving violation. Theseare probably rentable, anything
over 100 Anything in the 80s inan area shouldn't be driving
that fast. I mean, even 70 Youknow, whatever it is, you know
(24:10):
what I'm saying? But it was justreally bad. But anyway, sorry to
add more somber to somber, butthese crimes are important too.
And I think you should visit it.
There's a lot more informationabout it. So I know you remember
that episode. We recorded itDecember 1 2021. Any thoughts
from your end? No, I
Sal Rodriguez (24:28):
just remember.
Like you said another cautionarytale about being careful out
there. And Jason, one thing Ihave learned, this is
embarrassing to say, but I'velearned with me personally that
I can be intoxicated and notknow it. Oh, I will not know
that. I'm pretty drunk rightnow. I got a time wasted. But
the problem is, if you don'tknow you're intoxicated, you may
do things you should not dowhile intoxicated. Like driving,
(24:52):
right? Yes. So I would cautionpeople to please be careful out
there if you're gonna messaround with drugs and alcohol
Call, don't mess around withcars, walk, give your keys, take
the Uber, whatever, do not getbehind the wheel of a car, even
if you don't think you're wastedbecause you might be wasted and
not knowing.
Jason Connell (25:15):
Quick update on rugs because I hadn't been
following it recently. But hewas jailed for up to 10 years
over the fatal and its DUIcrash. So he had substance in
his system, impaired hisjudgment. So here, you know, he
also went away early 20s andnever had the NFL career. But he
(25:37):
will have a life. And he has alife in jail, but he'll have a
post jail life. And he too canlearn from that. So not to give
you more homework fans, but it'sa really important episode we
talk a little bit more aboutrugs and the victims and then a
GoFundMe, which I haven'tchecked in a while but again, it
(25:58):
just kind of felt like ifthere's a time to spotlight the
Henry ruggs A third fatal carcrash Episode This was that
time.
Sal Rodriguez (26:05):
Yeah, it does hammered home. It does make you
think does give you pause, andrest and peace all these people
whose lives have been takenbecause people made bad
decisions. Yep.
Jason Connell (26:18):
So thank you so much for listening. And please
be sure to subscribe to thethat's a crime podcast and the
that's a crime YouTube LiveChannel. You can also really
help us by giving the show afive star rating on Apple
podcast.
Sal Rodriguez (26:31):
And for all your listeners that enjoy sharing
your thoughts. You can leave usa review on Apple podcasts, send
us a direct message or post acomment on any that's a crime
social media platform.
Jason Connell (26:41):
We also highly recommend checking out our other
podcast and visiting justcurious media.com
Whoa, just curious. Welcome to Just curious
media. This is that's a crime.
I'm Jason Connell.
Sal Rodriguez (00:10):
And I'm Sal Rodriguez.
Jason Connell (00:12):
All right sound we are back with another
episode. A crime. Sorry, anothercrime.
Sal Rodriguez (00:19):
Yeah, a crime with some some tragedies here.
Jason Connell (00:22):
There are some tragedies. Yes, that is true.
Because today we're breakingdown the True Crime Story of the
team kills boyfriend and friendand high speed car crash in
2022. It's a tough one. Nodoubt.
Sal Rodriguez (00:38):
It is, you know, young people, especially, you
know, they got their whole lifeahead, all that potential, all
the possibilities cut down.
Jason Connell (00:46):
And it is very sad. In fact, as I was going
over the notes, and we talkedbefore, and then I was fine
tuning it. I couldn't help butthink of a cousin I lost in a
car crash teenager, she was theoldest of all the grandkids.
Bridget, Bridget Kenny rest inpeace. But she was so young 18 I
(01:07):
think it was I don't know allthe details. I was younger than
her like a year and a half. Butit was Iraq, the family to the
core right? Out joy riding andshe was not driving and got
like, the car kind of swerved.
And she was ejected out of thevehicle and hit a tree and was
in a coma for a few days. Iremember and it was just and
(01:30):
then finally she passed. And itwas like, Oh my gosh, it's so
surreal. We went to the funeral.
And it was like, she went to adifferent high school than us.
And it was just like, you go toa young person's funeral. And
that's just its own thing. It'shundreds and hundreds of kids.
Just everyone's you know, besidethemselves. So yeah, I remember
(01:53):
it vividly. So that comes tomind because we lose to teens,
it's definitely on the darkerside. And so preventable. You
know, like, it's everything'spreventing this from happening.
But yet, this tragedy
Sal Rodriguez (02:06):
happens. Well, we're gonna get to a little a
little tidbit at the very endthat I'm gonna want to clarify
and speak on, because I think itspeaks a lot on how this whole
thing went down as we get intothe details on it.
Jason Connell (02:18):
Yeah. So oddly enough, this date coincides with
my birthday, which is also veryweird as I read this crime, but
on July 31 2022, inStrongsville, Ohio, 19 year old
Mackenzie Srila was driving at aspeed of 100 miles an hour,
which caused a car crash leadingto the untimely deaths of her
(02:43):
boyfriend, 20 year old DominicRusso and his friend 19 year old
Davion Flanagan. So here's teensand 120 year old shrill is
driving 100 miles an hour, giveor take, probably over and has a
(03:04):
car crash and a driving 100 isnever a good idea. In fact, I'm
always curious why cars even goto these limits. Unless it's for
a special person or purpose likea police officer or an
ambulance. It's like, you know,it's there. You know why people
drive facile because they can?
Sal Rodriguez (03:23):
Sure, yeah, if the road is open, you'll
probably take it i i have hit100 A couple of times out there
on the open road, just to kindof see what it felt like. Sure.
We've all done that. But yeah, Iwas out there on the open road,
it would never occur to me to goanything above 50 in the city,
right?
Jason Connell (03:42):
Well, the tragic incident occurred around 5:30am
at the manufacturing plantlocated in Strongsville progress
drive business park. So this islike a business park. All these
things are they're probably notan error. You want to be driving
fast, right? Srila lost controlof her vehicle, careened off a
(04:04):
sign and crashed into a BrickWarehouse resulting in the
fatalities to Russo andFlanagan. And, yeah, it's like,
okay, you're going way too fast.
You can't make good decisions orreflexes, just a car can't
correct itself out of these highspeeds, Korean off the sign into
a Brick Warehouse. And moreoften than not salads, you know,
(04:27):
the passengers are truly atrisk. You know, more so often
than the drivers and thisespecially the passenger in the
seat next to the driver. That'slike the worst spot the I'm
assuming that Flanagan was inthe backseat. I don't know for
sure making that assumption. Butyeah, really bad. And we have a
(04:47):
lot of details to get throughbecause this also happened in
2022 in the summer, and there'salready been a trial. So this is
this isn't a brand new crime.
Sal Rodriguez (04:58):
Yeah. And the interesting thing is, I think at
first listen You're gonna thinkit was an accident. Well, surely
this was an accident, right? Butyeah, talk about going dark.
It's pretty brutal when you hearhow it was conceived and
described and as far asresponsibility level of
responsibility and premeditationeven.
Jason Connell (05:18):
Absolutely, yeah, there's a lot of debate, but we
have the facts, and we'll sharethem now. Now Shrila, was
arrested in November 2022 andhad a $5,000 bond and stayed in
custody to out her trial. Andduring the trial, Assistant
Cuyahoga County prosecutor, Timtroop, argued that Cerrillos
(05:42):
actions that morning, weredriven by a sinister motive. He
suggested that the crash was dueto a deteriorating relationship
with Russo, which had turnedsour in the weeks leading up to
the incident. These are youngpeople sow and Relationships are
(06:04):
hard on anybody, but especiallyin this age group, and now it's
530 in the morning, and yeah, Imean, there's definitely
something amiss if not drugs,and alcohol, something else and
then troop goes on to say thefollowing Davian
Sal Rodriguez (06:20):
was just cargo.
Whatever she had in for DominicFlanagan was just along with his
friend and got sucked into atoxic relationship, and just got
in the wrong seat that night.
Jason Connell (06:32):
So sad, horrible,
Sal Rodriguez (06:33):
Wrong place, wrong time, wrong people.
Jason Connell (06:36):
And if they have this beef going on, it's yeah,
that's he is collateral damage.
It's like, hey, Debian we'regonna talk now. And then maybe
you have to work something out.
But yeah, he's just in thissituation thinking, not that
it's not any worse for Rousseau.
But he really is just, as trueputs it, cargo.
Sal Rodriguez (06:57):
Sure. A third wheel, third wheel.
Jason Connell (07:00):
So prosecutors said one of their strongest
pieces of evidence was a briefvideo, which we do not have. So
we do not have this video from acity owned security cameras
showing shriller using her turnsignal, and slowly turning her
car from Pearl road on toAlameda drive. So I guess that's
showing that she'll follow therules in one instance, and
(07:25):
another drive crazy andhaphazardly and you know, I
guess that's the what they'repointing to here.
Sal Rodriguez (07:33):
Yeah, Jason, I did see the video. Actually, it
did. Yeah, I don't think thatwhat the video shows, I would
think so incriminatingnecessarily, to prove intent.
But what you see is you see herslowly and very normally,
consciously. Yeah, making aright turn, putting her blinker
on everything seems quitenormal. And then another camera
(07:53):
catches the car of only a fewseconds later, and she's going
straight at it says 100 miles anhour. So in a period of just a
few seconds, you see it,something happens between that
safe turn her head towards thisbrick wall. Yeah. And that's,
that's the case, what happenedin those few moments and why
Jason Connell (08:14):
I got you. And it doesn't necessarily mean this is
malicious, or I'm gonna do this,but you've now you know, you've
changed the situation, you'respeeding, you're probably
provoked, your feelings arehappening. It may not be to
crash. But then at some point atthese higher speeds, you lose
control. And not just her Imean, in anybody who's in a car
(08:38):
going way too fast. You mightjust be out joy riding, you
might just be a little buzzed.
But bad things happen when youget over a certain threshold.
These aren't racecar drivers.
Sal Rodriguez (08:51):
No, I was just gonna say that. I mean, you'd
have to be a pro driver to knowCorrado operate speeds. Yeah,
Jason Connell (08:56):
even going slower those speeds like Hey, I hit a
slick spot there and I'm going30 And I felt everything jar
Well, times that you know, timesthree, you're going 90. And that
swerve, you don't come out ofit. You don't. And that's what
happens. And they're young, andthey don't think that you just
think oh yeah, you know, pedaland now some cars behave
(09:17):
different than others. So yes,this is interesting. So I didn't
see the video, but thanks forshedding light on that.
Sal Rodriguez (09:24):
And it's very early in the morning, Jason 530.
You're assuming three people intheir late teens at 530 in the
morning. Were they going towork? No. Where are they coming
from work? No. So that appliesthere. Yeah, they were they were
at partying all night. Pa
Jason Connell (09:39):
night sleep all day that you were gonna hit
that. I don't know the carry outhere. Okay. So, Cuyahoga County
Common Pleas Court Judge NancyMargaret Rousseau no relation to
one of our victims. DominiqueRousseau said the following. She
Sal Rodriguez (10:00):
Morse more responsible driver to literal
hell on wheels as she makes herway down the street. Mackenzie
alone made the decision to drivethe car to drive an obscure
route, a route she visited a fewdays before and a route not
routinely taken by her. She hada mission and she executed it
with precision. That decisionwas deaf. This was not reckless
(10:21):
driving. This was murder. Andthis is the judge. Oh, wow.
Yeah, that's pretty intense. Sothis judge is not declaring any
doubt at all. She believes thatshe committed cold blooded
murder, and she's
Jason Connell (10:34):
trying to kill everybody. Self included. I'm
assuming that's the judges.
Okay. We
Sal Rodriguez (10:39):
don't know. We don't know the details for who
was wearing seatbelts. Wasanybody wearing a seatbelt?
Jason Connell (10:43):
Yeah. But if you're if this is her statement,
she's not you know, she'stalking about McKinsey. It is
McKinsey Srila. We're using lastnames. But it's not like I'm
going to drive so fast. I'mgoing to offer these two she's
probably thinking we're all inparallel here. We're all going
down.
Sal Rodriguez (10:59):
Okay, so that leads me more to what I want to
talk about as we go even furtherdown the road. Sure. So
Jason Connell (11:04):
troop, and that would be prosecutor troop
further emphasize that crash,investigators meticulously
examined the car's computersystem. And we don't know the
type of car sale by the way, orwe
Sal Rodriguez (11:17):
don't, we don't in fact, this is very
interesting information,forensic vehicular information I
never knew about now, I'mwondering if all cars have these
computers where you can kind ofit's like the equivalent of a
black box on a plane. Exactlythe recording. I never knew
about this,
Jason Connell (11:34):
especially. And that's what I was thinking. When
I started to read this, I wasthinking more newer car. This is
obviously not like a classic,something newer with a computer
system, some of these OnStar, orwhatever. So this analysis
revealed that the acceleratorpedal had been fully pressed
down during the four secondsleading up to the crash, with no
(11:57):
evidence of the brake beingapplied. Moreover, the car's
computer data indicated atapproximately five seconds
before the collision, thesteering wheel abruptly veer to
the right, and then swiftly tothe left. So it is fascinating.
The only time saw that I saw anyof this data in one of my
(12:18):
vehicles was with progressive.
My insurance provider, carinsurance, they sent me a little
thing that I plug into my car,and it tracks how you drive for
six months, and you can get alower rating. Whoa, means it's
cheaper thing. So I did it.
Well, I'm a very cautiousdriver, meaning it's looking for
(12:39):
heartbreaks are looking forexcessive acceleration. Yeah.
And I got like the top scorebecause I don't drive that way.
Now, sometimes you might have toelude something. Right, sir. So
many of those. It's not like youcan't have any. But
Sal Rodriguez (12:55):
if you did want is to create a profile, a
driving profile profile,
Jason Connell (12:59):
you need a lot of data. And then I even drove
cross, not cross country, butdefinitely like five states
away. And I did great. Butoccasionally someone cuts in
your lane, and you got to do alittle bit harder for Brady to
go BBB BBB. And I was like,gosh, I don't want to score it
would notify you that no. Oh,the only thing I didn't like
about it. I was hyper aware ofit. Yeah. And then you're even
(13:22):
more cautious and I didn't likethat. But knowing that that
could happen. A lot of thesecars probably are just sucking
that data in passively. WhatYeah,
Sal Rodriguez (13:31):
well, I'm imagining a Tesla. I would
imagine a Tesla is doing thisinherently right now.
Jason Connell (13:37):
Right. Exactly.
So shrill is Attorney JimMcDonnell suggested the
possibility that Srila mighthave been driving recklessly and
then attempted to evade thecrash at the 11th hour as she
approached the progress driveintersection. That was their
defense. Obviously, we know whatthe judge thought that didn't go
(13:58):
over with her so well. Now,again, it's a sad, but we have
to show our respects. And youknow, I wish we knew more about
our victims that passed awayDominic Russo and Davion
Flanagan, they were bothdeclared dead at the scene wash
Marilla was found unconscious.
Sal Rodriguez (14:20):
How did she get so lucky to survive this very
same crash?
Jason Connell (14:25):
I know. It's, this is what happens though.
Sometimes. You know, often Iread, you know the driver. This
has happened, Sal. I know. Ihaven't had a sports crime in a
while. And I don't mean like theact of someone from sports. An
athlete we've done some, infact, there's one coming later
in this episode. But more oftenthan not, I hear so many times
(14:45):
that an athlete to peopledriving, they roll their car,
they're tired, they've had a fewdrinks, they walk away whoever
was with them, another athleteis killed. It's more often than
I even want to share. So, youknow, you got the steering
wheel, that side of the car isprobably a lot more built. It's
(15:08):
terrible. And we don't know whatwas in her mind. Was she like,
yeah, it could have been allthese factors. Intent, oh my
gosh, what have I done, butyou've already put this in
motion. And then you know,listen, she definitely deserves
to be punished, no doubt, butshe's a person. And I'm finding
out that these two peopleperished because of what she did
(15:30):
her actions. She'll never shakethat. So I mean, that's just,
it's it's just compounded bysadness. Well,
Sal Rodriguez (15:37):
Jason, I did see a video clip of her in court. I
believe it was at sentencing.
And she appears now I say this,you know, I'm an actor. I've
taken drama and theater, I canusually see through people's
facades, usually, her remorseseem genuine. She was doing a
really good job of showinggrieving and remorse in the
courtroom. I did believe it.
Jason Connell (16:00):
Okay. I think she cared for this. Her boyfriend is
her boyfriend and his friend,you're gonna feel a lot of
guilt, especially as time goeson. This was July 31 2022. She's
in jail in November the trialsprobably 2023 you've had time to
reflect, right? Like, oh mygosh, I've really ruined my life
(16:24):
or changed my life. I've ruinedtwo other lives and their
families and their friends andit's it's a heavy, heavy burden.
While Srila was found guilty offour counts of felonious assault
and two counts of aggravatedvehicular homicide. But Sal,
there's even more to that.
Sal Rodriguez (16:45):
Yes. Shula also faces charges of drug possession
and possession of criminaltools. These charges stemmed
from the discovery of a smallbag of psychedelic mushrooms,
and a scale in her jacket.
Pocket. Jason, as soon as Ilearned of this crime, as soon
as I learned of the incident,the horrific tragedy. The first
thing was, I bet they were onsome sort of psychedelic hmm, I
(17:08):
bet that she was probably on LSDor something. I thought that
because especially after I sawher in the courtroom, I did
believe her remorse. So Ithought this was a horrible drug
induced. She probably wentpsychotic, probably thought she
could drive through the wall.
Wow, we've long heard stories,people can take psychedelics and
(17:30):
have a wonderful time, or theycan take psychedelics and jump
out the window, you know, so Ithink she was on a bad trip. And
unfortunately, the ultimateconsequence is human tragedy. So
I think that's what happened. Ithink she was messed up on
mushrooms, couldn't handle it,went kind of nuts, crashed the
car, killed her boyfriend killedthe friend, and will have to
live that down the rest of herlife.
Jason Connell (17:49):
Wow, you were spot on there. Now. I don't know
if there was an autopsy. Thereprobably was. But I don't know
if any of this was in Rousseauand Flanagan system, no talk of
finding drugs on them. It wasdefinitely on her. But this does
seem to be the case here.
Obviously, things weren't addingup. And this definitely fills in
(18:10):
some of the blanks and the judgehad this information, all the
more reason that she has thatstance. Now shirtless conviction
carries an automatic lifesentence behind bars with no
chance of parole for 15 years.
It's kind of 1930 but 15 years.
Yeah, so
Sal Rodriguez (18:31):
34 it if she gets parole is she'll be 34 Right?
Jason Connell (18:34):
So 34 still a young person but forever
changed,
Sal Rodriguez (18:39):
and a felon, right coming out of prison. 34
years old as a felon,
Jason Connell (18:44):
and you're never going to shake what you did.
Sal Rodriguez (18:47):
Right? Well, you would have to change your name.
I think people do that. Right.
Well, I don't know. I thinkpeople do that. I mean, it's
saying
Jason Connell (18:53):
you can't avoid yourself.
Sal Rodriguez (18:55):
You're no no of course you have to lay your head
down at night. But I mean, asfar as I do believe that there
are people to protect theiranonymity go into it's not
witness protection, but they dochange their name interesting.
Jason Connell (19:06):
Yeah. So that's a it's a dark one, you know, very
tough crime. These arecautionary tales. All of these
to me are cautionary tales, verypreventable. And I wish cars as
smart as they are doing all thisdata. You did this You did this
to this. I'm a huge proponentfor autonomous cars situation
(19:29):
like this. You know, you can'tHey, speed it up their
autonomous car, not going tohappen or assessing you as AI
gets smarter and being like,you're in no condition to drive
and just lock it up. We'reprobably not that far removed
from things like thatpreventative. You know care to
avoid these because it is veryavoidable ours. Your
(19:52):
calculations don't add up. Whyare we going 100 in this parking
area, and the car overrides you.
I know that sounds like big bro.
Other talking at the same time,I'm telling you, it would
eliminate a lot of these typesof problems and the other crime
we're going to talk aboutshortly. But still, there's no
getting back the two victims. Sorest in peace, Dominic Russo,
(20:16):
Davey and Flanagan rest of one'sfamily. Very, very tough and
Srila. I mean, Mackenzie, surelyyou'll have time to evolve,
you're young. That's the onlygood thing about this. You're
going in so young, and you canreally build your life, you're
still figuring out who you are.
Now, maybe you can choose adifferent path in life and come
(20:37):
out of this contributing tosociety and not being a
detriment to yourself and thosearound you. Yeah,
Sal Rodriguez (20:47):
I mean, for her life, to just go completely
downhill from this point, wouldbe of no service to anyone. So
yeah, the best thing is for herto pull herself together, do her
time, and come out a betterperson, an evolved person, and
maybe help people who were alsovictimized or perpetrated things
(21:07):
like this. In other words, yourstory can help other people.
Jason Connell (21:12):
Absolutely. And that covers the True Crime Story
of the team kills boyfriend andfriend and high speed car crash
in 2022. And so something we'vebeen doing on recent episodes is
spotlighting an episode from thepast of our that's a Crime
Library. And we've been kind ofgoing back and forth you pick
(21:33):
one I pick one and so I pickedone but it's not necessarily a
lighter crime. We have a greathit list of crimes to choose
from, but I stayed on pointbecause I figured it would as
you said, hammer the point homeeven more and I left this
episode, writing it now talkingabout it with you and performing
it if you will. Even more somberlike Gosh, man can't we just
(21:57):
learn from this and less victimsin the world and I chose episode
19 Henry rugs the third fatalcar crash in 2021. He was a
prominent NFL wide receiver inhis rookie season for the Las
Vegas Raiders, gets in a car hashis girlfriend. Top of the World
(22:20):
cell. This is truly anothercautionary tale. In Vegas, he's
driving on the street is a fancycar he's got is going 100 I
believe it's 130 130 comes upbehind someone can't react. This
is what happens not going ateven at Spass owl 130 and just
(22:43):
plows into this poor victim andher dog. And this is like
hitting me so hard. And it'sTina tinter and her dog Max.
That car goes up in flames. Theyperish. Rugs pulls over he's
distraught. They both live himand his girlfriend. He's in
(23:03):
prison NFL career over we have avictim and a dog to victims. And
yeah, and he I don't even I knowI followed it for a while. I
know he's still in jail. I thinkhe's been sentenced. But it's
just like there's no good thatcomes out of this. He was
literally like having this greatseason. And not that that's
important. But he didn't havemalicious intent. He just had a
(23:27):
bad decision. And a bad decisionhas consequences. When you have
seen or heard judgment andpaired judgment. It hurts me
like very viscerally like in mystomach. I'm like, gosh, it's
just it's so preventable. It'snot just some accident. Like I
didn't see the light and I youknow we recently did the treat
(23:47):
Williams episode where he waskilled on his motorcycle. But,
you know, the person tried tolike, pull in front of him and
he had some still terrible, butit's more of a you know, a
normal moving violation. Theseare probably rentable, anything
over 100 Anything in the 80s inan area shouldn't be driving
that fast. I mean, even 70 Youknow, whatever it is, you know
(24:10):
what I'm saying? But it was justreally bad. But anyway, sorry to
add more somber to somber, butthese crimes are important too.
And I think you should visit it.
There's a lot more informationabout it. So I know you remember
that episode. We recorded itDecember 1 2021. Any thoughts
from your end? No, I
Sal Rodriguez (24:28):
just remember.
Like you said another cautionarytale about being careful out
there. And Jason, one thing Ihave learned, this is
embarrassing to say, but I'velearned with me personally that
I can be intoxicated and notknow it. Oh, I will not know
that. I'm pretty drunk rightnow. I got a time wasted. But
the problem is, if you don'tknow you're intoxicated, you may
do things you should not dowhile intoxicated. Like driving,
(24:52):
right? Yes. So I would cautionpeople to please be careful out
there if you're gonna messaround with drugs and alcohol
Call, don't mess around withcars, walk, give your keys, take
the Uber, whatever, do not getbehind the wheel of a car, even
if you don't think you're wastedbecause you might be wasted and
not knowing.
Jason Connell (25:15):
Quick update on rugs because I hadn't been
following it recently. But hewas jailed for up to 10 years
over the fatal and its DUIcrash. So he had substance in
his system, impaired hisjudgment. So here, you know, he
also went away early 20s andnever had the NFL career. But he
(25:37):
will have a life. And he has alife in jail, but he'll have a
post jail life. And he too canlearn from that. So not to give
you more homework fans, but it'sa really important episode we
talk a little bit more aboutrugs and the victims and then a
GoFundMe, which I haven'tchecked in a while but again, it
(25:58):
just kind of felt like ifthere's a time to spotlight the
Henry ruggs A third fatal carcrash Episode This was that
time.
Sal Rodriguez (26:05):
Yeah, it does hammered home. It does make you
think does give you pause, andrest and peace all these people
whose lives have been takenbecause people made bad
decisions. Yep.
Jason Connell (26:18):
So thank you so much for listening. And please
be sure to subscribe to thethat's a crime podcast and the
that's a crime YouTube LiveChannel. You can also really
help us by giving the show afive star rating on Apple
podcast.
Sal Rodriguez (26:31):
And for all your listeners that enjoy sharing
your thoughts. You can leave usa review on Apple podcasts, send
us a direct message or post acomment on any that's a crime
social media platform.
Jason Connell (26:41):
We also highly recommend checking out our other
podcast and visiting justcurious media.com
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