Sister of teen killed in Mackenzie Shirilla crash speaks on movie, time since brother’s death

CLEVELAND (WJW) -- Four years after a deadly crash in Strongsville captured national headlines, the family of one of the victims is speaking out publicly once again. This follows the release of a new Netflix documentary that is shining a spotlight back on the case. Christine Russo, whose brother Dominic Russo was killed in the crash alongside 19-year-old Davion Flanagan, said the documentary has reopened painful wounds for both families. “It's bittersweet because the entire world knows about who my brother is. Like billions of people know. And I think he deserves nothing less. Same thing with Davion,” said Russo. The 2022 crash claimed the lives of Flanagan, a recent graduate of Strongsville High School, and 20-year-old Dominic Russo. “He was loyal, caring, funny, and athletic. He was kind,” said Russo. Mackenzie Shirilla, who was 17 at the time of the crash, was convicted in 2023 on two counts of murder. She was sentenced to life in prison and will be eligible for parole after 15 years. Since the trial, the Russo family had largely remained out of the public eye until Dominic’s father and Christine participated in the Netflix documentary. “It's taken four years. We've remained silent for a really long time,” said Russo. The documentary also featured Mackenzie Shirilla’s parents. Following its release, her father, Steve Shirilla, was placed on administrative leave from his teaching position at Mary Queen of Peace School. In a statement to Fox 8, the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland said school administrators are investigating allegations circulating on social media involving “poor judgment” and confirmed the teacher was placed on leave while the investigation continues. Meanwhile, Christine Russo has since launched a podcast focused on advocacy and preserving the memories of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan. “It’s not that I want to talk badly about the Shirillas. And it's not that I want to hate anybody or anything like that, but I'm going to defend my brother. And if they keep putting out misinformation, I'm going to shut it down. That’s what it's all about. I'm also going to talk about grief and domestic violence awareness, especially in teens,” said Russo. The family has also set up a GoFundMe to help Support Dominic’s Memorial.