The Netflix documentary “The Crash” has pushed Mackenzie Shirilla’s case back into public view, and a Cleveland school has now placed her father, Steve Shirilla, on administrative leave. Mary Queen of Peace School said it is investigating social media allegations involving one of its teachers.
Shirilla, a student at the school no longer, was found guilty in 2023 of multiple charges, including murder and aggravated vehicular homicide, after a Cuyahoga County judge concluded she drove 100 mph before slamming into a brick wall in Strongsville on July 31, 2022. The crash killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and their friend, Davion Flanagan, and she is serving a life sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years.
The school said it moved quickly after learning of the allegation and put the teacher on leave, saying the investigation is ongoing. In a statement, Mary Queen of Peace said it is investigating allegations made on social media that one of its teachers had demonstrated poor judgment, and added that it wants parents and families to know the safety, wellbeing and trust of students remain among its highest priorities. It also said it takes all student concerns seriously and is committed to responding promptly and responsibly whenever concerns are brought forward.
According to the school’s website, Steve Shirilla is the art and digital media teacher. A parent told 19 News that students loved and respected him, and said the leave was not tied to anything he had done at school, but to the backlash in the community after the documentary’s release. The parent also said the school serves children ages 5 to 14.
The timing matters because the documentary has reopened a case that was already closed by a courtroom verdict and a prison sentence. What remains now is not whether Mackenzie Shirilla was convicted — that was settled in 2023 — but whether the pressure surrounding her story will continue to spill over into the lives and work of people connected to her family.
