Video : Mackenzie Shirilla sentenced to 15 years to life

An Ohio teenager has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of murder in connection with a crash that killed her boyfriend and another teenager in her car.

Mackenzie Shirilla was found guilty earlier this month of four counts of murder that prosecutors called “an intentional act”.

Shirilla was charged with 12 counts, including four counts of murder, four counts of felony assault, two counts of aggravated murder while driving, one count of drug possession and one count of possession of a drug. possession of criminal tools.

Investigators say Shirilla, who was out of her car early in the morning with her boyfriend and another teen in July 2022, intentionally accelerated to 100 mph before hitting a brick wall.

Prosecutors said evidence showed Shirilla, then 17, had never shown any signs of slowing down.

Shirilla’s boyfriend Dominic Russo, 20, and friend Davion Flanagan, 19, were pronounced dead at the scene. Prosecutors argued that the accident was intentional and was done to end Shirilla’s tumultuous relationship with Russo.

Nancy Margaret Russo announced the verdict, saying Shirilla’s actions were “not reckless driving”, but rather murder.

“She took everyone in the car with her,” Judge said.

However, the defense said the prosecution had not provided enough evidence to prove the accident was more than a “tragic accident”.

James McDonnell, Shirilla’s lawyer, said: “It’s not clear, it’s not clear to conclude that she acted intentionally.

But the judge disagreed, telling local media that the last seconds of security footage were crucial to reaching a guilty verdict. However, Shirilla’s boyfriend’s father said before sentencing that he did not want the young girl to spend life in prison.