US4 min(s) read
Published 13:31 22 May 2026 GMT
The release of The Crash on Netflix has caught the attention of viewers, with the true crime documentary sitting atop the streaming platform's rankings.
The doc follows Mackenzie Shirilla's murder case, as viewers have become hooked on the details surrounding her imprisonment.
However, one detail that has recently surfaced was the thousands of text messages between convict Mackenzie Shirilla and her ex-boyfriend Dominic Russo.
In the early hours of July 31, 2022, when Mackenzie was just 17, she was arrested after being at the wheel of a car that crashed into a brick wall at over 100 mph, killing the two passengers onboard.
The teen would eventually be found guilty of killing two men after intentionally crashing in the premeditated murders of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan, according to a judge.
Mackenzie was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences, with the possibility of parole after 15 years, in 2023, though she was interviewed while behind bars for the documentary.
This came after she was convicted of 12 felony charges, which included four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of drug possession, and one count of possessing criminal tools.
The documentary also dived into the tumultuous relationship between Mackenzie and Dominic, though, as they dated on-and-off for four years while living together.
Mackenzie was angry after Dominic cheated on her early in their relationship, and texts show that she was controlling and often threatened to break up with him, harm him, or take her own life.
In the months before the car crash, Mackenzie had sent him texts about sugar daddies and being “paid to please a man”.
It is among the many details that were left out of the true crime documentary, as Mackenzie appeared to threaten to harm Dominic and herself in the texts.
A judge described Mackenzie as "hell on wheels," as she continues to claim that she is innocent and cannot remember the crash.
Investigators analyzed approximately 93,000 text messages between Shirilla and Russo from January 2020 through July 30, 2022.
The US Sun also reviewed these messages, which were part of a 31,000-page document.
Among the numerous eye-opening claims, Mackenzie admitted she let a man do sexual acts with her feet "for money."
One text from Mackenzie which was sent on January 25, 2022, read: “You realize I’m just gonna go get a sugar daddy and start selling feet pics and I’m gonna be doing just fine so this is really your last chance to hand write me an apology or fix this or we’re really done.
“I’m giving you 10 minutes starting now,” she warned.
“Ok go get some fake love thats short lived,” he replied, later adding: “A suggar daddy? I don’t get how youve come to this. I rly do love u idc how tough or relationship is im commitment rn (sic).”
Mackenzie showed little remorse, though, replying: “I don’t see you typing a paragraph long apology right now like I’m serious you only have five minutes left till you’re single.”
The thousands of texts were part of a report named Outcome: Suspected Sex Offenses, and it was produced by the Strongsville Police Department.
It read: “The purpose of the investigation into suspected sex offenses committed by Mackenzie was for the purpose of confirming or dispelling the possibility of Mackenzie having been victimized and forced into committing unwanted sex acts,” they explained in the documentary.
“Messages indicate that Mackenzie voluntarily engaged in suspected sex acts with other people likely in exchange for monetary value without being forced to commit those acts,” they concluded.
Mackenzie's legal team had previously tried to appeal and were rejected.
They said in a statement: “At this point, we are focused on pursuing the appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court and investigating other potential legal remedies with the goal of securing a new trial.”
