Photo: The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, in October 2024, by JThorne, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Mackenzie Shirilla is asking the Ohio Supreme Court to reopen her direct appeal, with her new legal team arguing her former appellate lawyer was ineffective.

Shirilla was convicted of murder after driving more than 95 mph in a 35 mph zone into a brick building in Strongsville in July 2022. The crash killed passengers Dominic Russo, her boyfriend at the time, and Davion Flanagan.

She waived a jury trial and was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 15 years.

A memorandum filed Sept. 28 argues her original appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge her trial counsel’s performance.

The Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office urged the court to decline jurisdiction, arguing continued representation does not establish good cause for delay.

The Ohio Supreme Court has denied Shirilla’s case three times since May 2025, and has not yet decided whether it will hear this request.

Source: WNIR, “Mackenzie Shirilla asking Ohio Supreme Court to Reopen her Direct Appeal”