This timeline is compiled directly from the official Strongsville Police narrative, Life360 data provided by a witness, officer observations, and supplemental reports in the document. All times are as recorded in the police report.

February 9, 2018

• Strongsville Police responded to a disturbance at Center Middle School involving Mackenzie Shirilla and another eighth-grade student. Police documented that both girls exchanged words, shoved each other, and threw punches while walking to school buses after classes. Officers advised both families that the school would handle discipline internally and recommended the students avoid contact with one another.

October 19, 2018

• Strongsville Police investigated a school bullying and menacing complaint involving Mackenzie Shirilla at Strongsville High School. According to the report, another student alleged Shirilla called her a “bitch,” threatened to beat her up, and encouraged friends to surround and intimidate the student at her locker. The report also referenced alleged Instagram bullying involving a photo posted online. Shirilla denied some allegations and claimed the other student had threatened her as well.

May 14, 2019

• A Strongsville police incident report documented that Mackenzie Shirilla was accused of shoplifting earrings from Kohl’s. The report stated the earrings were not recovered and Kohl’s declined prosecution because the value was less than $20.

March 23, 2020

• Strongsville Fire and EMS responded to the Shirilla residence after Mackenzie Shirilla, then 15 years old, allegedly threatened suicide and a psychiatric evaluation was requested. The report noted a “history of anxiety.” Responders documented that Mackenzie ultimately was not transported to the hospital because her parents reportedly did not believe the threats were real and did not believe she would harm herself.

April 4, 2022

• Strongsville Police investigated a road rage and menacing complaint involving Mackenzie Shirilla. According to the report, Shirilla told police a man later identified as Daniel Trush followed her vehicle while she drove home from Polaris, repeatedly exited his SUV, approached her window, and blocked her vehicle in a driveway. Police documented that Shirilla recorded portions of the encounter on her cellphone. The incident was forwarded to prosecutors for review.

July 31, 2022

• 2:53 AM: Dominic Russo texts his father “I Love You Dad.”
• 5:30 AM: Black 2018 Toyota Camry (OH plate JIB3692, driven by 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla) begins moving westbound from Brushwood Lane, Strongsville. Occupants: Mackenzie Shirilla (driver), Davion Flanagan (rear passenger), Dominic Russo (front passenger).
• 5:33 AM: Vehicle turns southbound onto Pearl Road.
• 5:34 AM: Vehicle turns westbound onto Progress Drive. Speeds reach up to 90 mph; app records one high-speed alert and one hard-braking alert.
• 5:36 AM: Vehicle veers right off Progress Drive (posted speed limit 35 mph), crosses grass, goes through the intersection of Alameda Drive, strikes the Plidco business sign, and crashes into the corner of the building at 11792 Alameda Drive. Speedometer freezes at 72 mph. Severe front-end damage severs the vehicle nearly in half; all airbags deploy.
• 6:15 AM: Strongsville Police Dispatch receives 911 call reporting a single-vehicle crash into a building near Progress Drive and Alameda Drive.
• 6:15:34 AM: Officers Ptl. Zelinsky (#7151) and Ptl. Galassi (#7157) arrive on scene. They find three occupants: Mackenzie Shirilla (driver) – alive but pinned under collapsed passenger dashboard, mumbling, severe injuries to right leg, right arm, and head.
• Davion Flanagan (rear passenger, not wearing seatbelt) – deceased, thrown forward.
• Dominic Russo (front passenger) – deceased, severe head and facial trauma.
• Officers note the engine is warm (not hot), muffler silent, and no airbag powder smell, consistent with the crash occurring roughly one hour earlier.
• Rescue and medical response: Strongsville Fire Department arrives and begins extrication with jaws of life and mechanical tools.
• Davion Flanagan is extracted first; has a brief light pulse but is pronounced deceased in the ambulance. Second Life Flight helicopter is cancelled.
• Mackenzie Shirilla is freed; briefly speaks and mentions “Jacob” and asks about Davion. A large bag of psilocybin mushrooms (8.1 grams) and a digital scale are found on her person and seized.
• Dominic Russo is confirmed deceased on scene.
• Life Flight helicopter lands nearby and transports Mackenzie Shirilla to Metro Health Hospital.
• Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office is contacted at 06:52 AM; examiner arrives to take custody of both deceased males. Bodies are transported to the Medical Examiner’s office.
• Hospital and family notifications: 
• Mackenzie Shirilla’s parents (Steven and Natalie Shirilla) are notified at Metro Health Hospital. She undergoes surgery for broken bones in her right leg and arm; sedated on ketamine; alcohol screen negative.
• Death notifications are made to the Russo family (mother Christine and father Frank) and the Flanagan family (parents out of town, notified by phone).
• Evidence and investigation: Officers collect evidence from the vehicle: $165 cash, 8.1 g mushrooms, digital scale, two iPhones, Cadillac key fob, suspected marijuana (10 g), THC pen, bong, Coach purse, Michael Kors bag, and other items. Vehicle is towed by Center Towing.
• Crash Investigation team (Ptl. Damore) documents the scene and completes the Ohio Uniform Crash Report (OH-1).
• Evening follow-up: 
• 9:41 PM: Deanna Fausnight (mother of witness David Proctor) contacts police and provides screenshots from Davion’s Life360 app showing the vehicle’s final movements, plus information about Mackenzie’s recent drug use (Snapchat/Instagram posts).

August 1, 2022

• 06:30 AM: Ptl. Galassi contacts the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office to confirm Dominic Russo’s identity.
• Additional case notes: The investigation remains open; Detective Bureau to follow up.
• Toxicology and blood results from Mackenzie Shirilla were requested via court order.
• Bodycam footage, scene photographs, Life360 data, and social media images were added to the report.

August 2022

• Police initially investigated the collision as a possible accident or vehicle malfunction.
• Investigators later reviewed crash data, surveillance footage, cell phone evidence, GPS information, and witness statements. Authorities concluded the crash was intentional.
• Prosecutors alleged Shirilla intentionally drove into the building as part of a murder-suicide plan connected to turmoil in her relationship with Russo.
• Investigators discovered GPS evidence allegedly showing Shirilla had visited the industrial area days before the crash. Prosecutors argued this demonstrated planning and premeditation.
• Witnesses described prior arguments between Shirilla and Russo. One witness reportedly claimed Shirilla previously threatened to crash the car during an argument.

November 4, 2022

• After Shirilla was released from the hospital, authorities arrested her and charged her in connection with the deaths.
• Charges included aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, aggravated vehicular homicide, drug possession, and possessing criminal tools.

2023 Pretrial Proceedings

• Shirilla waived her right to a jury trial and elected to have a bench trial before Cuyahoga County Judge Nancy Margaret Russo.
• Prosecutors presented crash reconstruction evidence, surveillance footage, event data recorder information, social media evidence, and testimony from family members and investigators.
• The defense argued the crash was accidental and suggested Shirilla may have suffered a medical episode related to POTS, a disorder affecting blood circulation and heart rate.
• Prosecutors argued there was no medical evidence supporting claims she blacked out before impact.

August 14, 2023

• Judge Nancy Margaret Russo found Shirilla guilty on all 12 felony counts.
• Convictions included:
• Four counts of murder
• Four counts of felonious assault
• Two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide
• Drug possession
• Possessing criminal tools
• During the verdict, Judge Russo stated: “This was murder.”
• Judge Russo also referred to Shirilla as “hell on wheels,” a phrase that later became widely associated with the case.

August 21, 2023 – Sentencing

• Victim impact statements were delivered by members of Dominic Russo’s and Davion Flanagan’s families.
• Shirilla was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years. The life sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
• Judge Russo permanently suspended Shirilla’s driver’s license.
• Prosecutors stated they believed Shirilla intentionally chose early morning hours because traffic would be minimal.

September 25, 2023

• Shirilla’s attorneys filed an appeal challenging the convictions and arguing insufficient evidence supported the verdict.

September 26, 2024

• Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals upheld Shirilla’s convictions.

April 2025

• Another post-conviction filing seeking a new trial was denied after the court determined it had been filed beyond the legal deadline.

May 22, 2025

• Shirilla’s parents publicly defended their daughter in media interviews and continued asserting the crash was not intentional.

March 2026

• Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals upheld the denial of Shirilla’s request for a new trial, ruling the filing was submitted one day late. * The Ohio Supreme Court later declined to hear further appeals.

May 2026

• Netflix released the documentary “The Crash,” which included Shirilla’s first public prison interview since her conviction.
• Renewed public attention followed the documentary’s release, including resurfaced bodycam footage and new media coverage surrounding the case.