Mackenzie SherrillThe girl’s mother is speaking out for the first time since her daughter’s case was thrust back into the spotlight, rejecting claims made online and insisting the convicted killer is not the “villain” many have made her out to be. In a new interview, Natalie Schirillo opened up about regaining public scrutiny following the Netflix series “The Crash,” which examines the shocking high-speed crash in 2022 that killed boyfriend and friend Mackenzie Schirillo.
Schirilla, now 21 and serving a life sentence, was found guilty of manslaughter after prosecutors say she intentionally drove her Toyota Camry at 100 mph into a commercial building in Strongsville, Ohio, killing boyfriend Dominic Russo, 20, and friend Davion Flanagan, 19.
Natalie Schirillo said the public reaction to her daughter was fueled by misinformation and speculation surrounding the fatal crash.
“There were three people in the car,” Natalia said The Daily Mail in his first interview since the documentary aired. “Anything could happen. Anything. So all these people making up all these stories, it’s just a bunch of stories. Nobody knows.”
The mother of the convicted killer “Hell on Wheels”, the nickname the judge gave Mackenzie at sentencing, admitted she knew many people would never forgive her daughter, but insisted there was more to the story.
“I’ll always be the villain in someone’s story because I’m the mom of the man who drove the car that killed two kids,” Natalie said. “It’s okay because I know I’m not a villain, I’m a good person. My daughter is, too. She’s not what she’s been called on the internet. She struggles with that every day.”
Natalie Shirila makes explosive statements about her daughter’s relationship with Dominic Russo
Natalie also disputed long-standing rumors about Mackenzie and Russo’s relationship, including speculation that he planned to break up with her or that Mackenzie had previously tried to crash a car while he was inside. “I loved Dom. I still love Dom. Mackenzie still loves Dom. She’s fighting,” Natalie said. “The house was like part of our family.”
The grieving mother continued to claim Russo struggled with mental health issues, claiming he was “bipolar” and had previously threatened to kill himself.
Inside Mackenzie Shirila and Dominic Russo’s allegedly tumultuous relationship
According to Natalie, Russo once threatened to harm himself at the Shiril family’s home and allegedly went through an emotional spiral that required Mackenzie’s help. She also claimed that Russo’s mother reached out to McKenzie for support several times when he was allegedly “banging his head against the wall.”
Natalie admitted that the young couple had a turbulent relationship and often argued, but suggested that there were complications behind the scenes that were not fully understood in public.
Why Mackenzie Schirillo’s family says things have changed since ‘The Wreck’
Natalie also reflected on the aftermath of the fatal crash, claiming that Cheryl’s family initially grieved with Dominic Russo’s loved ones before the relationship suddenly broke down.
According to Natalie, Russo’s mother, Christine Agnella Russo, who used to work for the Cuyahoga County District Attorney’s Office and later prosecuted the case, was allegedly caught on video talking to police about McKenzie going to jail and advocating for a Republican judge to oversee the trial.
Natalie ultimately blamed much of the societal shift in the narrative on Dominique Russo’s half-sister, Christina Russo. “Christine Jr. doesn’t even know us,” Natalie claimed. “She’s the daughter of Frank Russo and his first wife. She only knew Dominic until he was 15. Mackenzie only met her once. But she claims to know everything about us.”
Mackenzie Schirillo remains behind bars after the deadly 2022 crash
Shirila remains incarcerated following her arrest following the crash on July 31, 2022, which occurred just days before her 18th birthday. During the trial, prosecutors successfully argued that Shirila intentionally caused the crash, leading to a 2023 judge finding her guilty on several counts, including murder.
Her family, Natalie said, initially believed McKenzie would face lesser charges, such as vehicular homicide, and continued to visit her regularly while she served her sentence.
Natalie’s latest comments come as renewed public interest in the case has fueled renewed online debate following the release of the movie Crash, with many viewers once again questioning the motive, responsibility and events leading up to the fatal collision.
According to The Daily Mail, some of Natalie’s claims may be partially reflected in a huge collection of investigative material released after the trial, including more than 30,000 text messages, reports, records and court documents.