In a text obtained by Fox 8, Mackenzie Shirilla told her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, that she 'would die for' him ahead of the fatal crash that killed him and their friend, Davion Flanagan.
Mackenzie Shirilla has found herself constantly in the headlines and trending all over social media ever since Netflix released the true-crime documentary, The Crash. For those who haven't seen the documentary yet, it tells the story of a then-17-year-old Mackenzie who intentionally slammed her car into a brick building, leading to two deaths – that of her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, and their friend, Davion Flanagan, 19. Now, amid the renewed attention on the case, Mackenzie's old texts with Dominic from 2020 have surfaced, where she talks about how she “would die for [him].”
Recently, a chilling text exchange between Mackenzie Shirilla and her boyfriend, Dominic Russo has come to light where she tells him that she “would die for [him].” Notably, Mackenzie sent this message to him two years before she killed him and their friend, Davion Flanagan, by ploughing her Toyota into a brick wall. This 2020 text message surfaced this week, in May 2026, as part of a massive phone records released by Ohio's Strongsville Police Department. In the text obtained by Fox 8, it seemed like Mackenzie and Dominic were having a heated argument when she told him to “treat the girl who would die for you a little better.”
Mackenzie Shirilla and Dominic Russo's relationship was one full of highs and lows. And during these low periods, the duo would fight so much that it would lead to several toxic text exchanges between them. These messages exposed an apparent violent and reckless streak in Mackenzie. For instance, in one message, Mackenzie wrote, “I'm gonna kill someone, I just want to bang my head on the wall till I'm dead.” According to the records, in March 2022, Dominic had claimed that Mackenzie “hit me” and “tried to throw a rock at me.” In the same month, he also tried to warn her, telling Mackenzie that she was “driving like a maniac.” It is worth noting that Dominic ended up dead just four months after this exchange.
At the time, Dominic, who was in the passenger seat and their friend, Davion, who was in the back of the car, were both declared dead at the scene following the crash. Meanwhile, Mackenzie was found unconscious with her foot, in fuzzy Prada slippers, still on the Toyota's accelerator. Officials revealed that when Mackenzie later woke up in the hospital, doctors said that she displayed “grief, guilt, and shame” about the incident.
According to prosecutors, the crash was a deliberate attempt on Mackenzie Shirilla's part to murder her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, after their relationship had significantly fizzled out. In fact, according to reports, Dominic had also tried to break up with her a number of times before his death. In one text, he eerily urged her to split with him by saying, “There isn't very much time on earth yaknow.” Many believe that Dominic might have predicted his death in this manner.
However, Mackenzie and her parents have constantly maintained that the crash killing Dominic was not intentional and was the result of a condition which led her to have occasional blackouts. Mackenzie had actually opened up about her medical issue with Dominic, stating, “I had a rlly bad blackout today fr.” And just a week before the fatal crash, she had sent him another text about having a similar episode, writing:
“The one I just had was probably the worst black out like pain level I've had.”
What are your thoughts on Mackenzie Shirilla texting Dominic Russo that she would die for him? Let us know.
Also read: Mackenzie Shirilla Reveals She Wants To Be A Life Coach After Coming Out Of Prison