HELL ON WHEELS, MACKENZIE SHIRILLA KILLS 2 MEN DEMANDS KIM KARDASHIAN

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: HELL ON WHEELS, MACKENZIE SHIRILLA KILLS 2 MEN DEMANDS KIM KARDASHIAN

Date: May 28, 2026 | Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

Episode Overview

This hard-hitting episode of Crime Stories with Nancy Grace examines the fatal car crash caused by 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla, which left two young men—her boyfriend Dominic and his friend Davion—dead. The discussion probes the deliberate nature of the crash, the subsequent legal proceedings, Mackenzie’s striking lack of remorse, and her audacious “diva demands” from behind bars—including calls for Kim Kardashian’s intervention. The episode spotlights victim impact, psychological analysis, and concerns over social media-driven infamy surrounding criminal cases.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Crash: Deliberate or Accidental?

Narrative Reconstruction

• Surveillance Footage Review
  • Mackenzie accelerates a Toyota Camry up to 100 mph after a party, then slams into a brick building.
  • Discussion on the intentionality: video shows a slow, deliberate turn before speeding into the wall (04:01).
  • One victim dies instantly; the other dies shortly after.

Expert Analysis, Joel Waldman (Surviving the Survivor):

• “There was a slow, meticulous turn. That is why this bench judge eventually convicted Mackenzie of these crimes.” (04:01)
• No evidence of a medical episode (“POTS”) or health emergency, and Mackenzie never lost consciousness (04:38).

2. Mackenzie’s Statements & Demeanor

• Defendant’s Audio (Netflix Clip):
  • “I just want to say my truth...I know I’m not a monster.” (04:42)
• Nancy Grace Retort:
  • “My truth. I immediately get suspicious when someone says 'my truth.'” (05:00)
• Denial of Memory / Accountability:
  • Claims to have no recollection of the accident, says, “I'm not saying I'm innocent. I was the driver of a tragedy, but I'm not a murderer.” (05:23)
• Nancy’s Reaction:
  • “She’s lying through her teeth. Why is she saying, ‘I woke up in the hospital, have no idea what happened’? Girl. They’re dead. Their families’ lives are shattered.” (05:47)

3. Impact on the Victims’ Families

Christine Russo, Dominic’s Sister (Big Sister Unhinged podcast):

• Heartbreaking family loss and ongoing grief:
  • “There’s before Dom and after Dom—it’s completely shattered.” (07:01)
  • Recounts the traumatic phone call and family's frantic rush to reunite after the accident (07:32)
• Blames Mackenzie for intentional actions and self-absorption:
  • “She floored it with no brakes the entire time into the building.” (08:26)
  • "She cared about her image so much...She’s the most terrible person." (21:57)

Insights on Motive:

• Mackenzie was unable to accept the breakup; suggests possessiveness and inability to let go (09:08).

4. Mackenzie’s Narcissism & Post-Crime Behavior

• Mackenzie’s “Diva Demands”:
  • Bemoans lack of media attention (“Why didn’t the Today Show interview me?”) and expresses excitement over potential interviews and fame.
  • “Kenzie, it’s on the Today Show. What girl? I’m telling you, they’re about to get ready for the biggest plot twist of the century, right?...Start writing your book.” (12:42, 13:48)
  • Delusional fixation on Kim Kardashian acting as her lawyer (29:24).
• Prison Behavior:
  • Focus on appearance: walks the track daily, uses a waist trainer, refuses prison food to stay "model-ready" (27:35, 28:09).
  • Obsessive attention to social media image: instructs her mother to update Instagram bios (“Put #FreeKenzie”; 36:42).
• Prison Contacts:
  • Cheyenne Topping (ex-prison girlfriend): confirms Mackenzie’s obsession with appearance, fame, and modeling prospects, never mentions reaching out to victims’ families (26:54, 30:18).

5. Psychological Analysis

Dr. Cheryl Ehret (Forensic Psychologist):

• Sees traits of severe borderline personality disorder: volatility, fear of abandonment, and self-obsession (18:39, 20:10).
  • “I think she had a lethal temper tantrum because she felt abandoned...when someone is going to leave them.” (20:10)
• Nancy questions: “Being angry because your boyfriend is dumping you and killing him is a lot different from reacting out of feelings of abandonment.” (22:33)
• Dr. Ehret: Acknowledges elements of narcissism, histrionic personality, and total lack of empathy.

Panel Disagreement:

• Christine Russo: Attributes Mackenzie’s actions to pure self-absorption, not just fear of abandonment. (21:57)

6. The Victims: Remembering Dominic and Davion

Joel Waldman:

• Dominic was just 20; Davion, a star football player, and promising student, both with bright futures (11:36).
• Families are destroyed, ripple effects of trauma are generational.

7. The Aftermath & Social Media Fame

• Audio tapes reveal Mackenzie aspired to model post-prison, emulating the “hot felon” who gained fame after incarceration (31:13).
• Christine Russo rails against this, expressing outrage at criminal infamy being rewarded.

8. Legal Ramifications and “Dom and Davion’s Law”

Derek Smith (Veteran Trial Lawyer):

• Analyzes likelihood of jailhouse calls being admissible in appeal; argues defense will fight their inclusion for being “overly prejudicial.” (35:43, 37:23)
• Nancy reiterates: “Everything she said is...a treasure trove of information for the prosecution to show her frame of mind.” (37:11)
• Discussion shifts to the need for improved laws (“Son of Sam” law modernization) restricting criminals’ ability to profit via social media or notoriety from their crimes.
  • “Basically I’m trying to prevent her from becoming...the next Gypsy Rose.” — Christine Russo (48:02)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “My truth. I immediately get suspicious when someone says 'my truth.'”
  — Nancy Grace (05:00)

• “She floored it with no brakes the entire time into the building.”
  — Christine Russo (08:26)

• “She did test positive for marijuana, not for the psilocybin...But yeah, I mean, she’s just absolutely reckless.”
  — Joel Waldman (10:36)

• “Kenzie...they’re about to get ready for the biggest plot twist of the century, right? What did they say about me?”
  — Mackenzie Shrilla (12:42)

• “She cared about her image so much...She didn't want people to think she was left.”
  — Christine Russo (21:57)

• “She says Kim Kardashian is going to come and save her.”
  — Cheyenne Topping (29:09)

• “Put #FreeKenzie on there, but that's gonna look bad. Innocent. And delete my bio. Just do the hashtags in my bio.”
  — Mackenzie Shrilla instructing her mom (36:42)

• “This is...power and control. Intimate partner violence, but the abuser was her.”
  — Dr. Cheryl Ehret (44:22)

• “I’m glad that the world sees her now for who she is.”
  — Christine Russo (46:26)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:34 | Introduction—Mackenzie’s demands and crime overview | | 04:01 | Evidence for deliberate crash (Joel Waldman) | | 04:42–05:47 | Mackenzie’s statements, Nancy’s skepticism | | 07:01 | Christine Russo on family devastation | | 08:26–09:35 | Details of pre-crash fight and motive | | 10:36 | Waldman on drugs, reckless history, generational trends | | 11:36 | Background of the victims | | 12:42–13:48 | Mackenzie’s jail calls lamenting media attention | | 18:39–21:28 | Dr. Cheryl Ehret’s psychological analysis | | 27:35–29:09 | Cheyenne Topping on Mackenzie’s focus in prison | | 36:42 | Social media obsessed: “Change my Instagram bio” (Mackenzie)| | 44:22–46:17 | Domestic violence, narcissism, and reform laws discussed | | 48:02–48:51 | Christine on “Dom and Davion’s Law” proposal |

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Final Thoughts

This episode lays bare the emotional devastation wrought by Mackenzie Shirilla’s actions and exposes the alarming intersection of crime, media, and fame-seeking amid tragedy. It explores the deliberate nature of the crime, details the aftermath for the survivors, scrutinizes the defendant’s psychological profile, and raises critical questions about the need to update laws in the social media age, ensuring criminals do not profit from infamy.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a thorough, engaging, and nuanced recount of this deeply affecting case and its broader implications.

Transcript

[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Hell on Wheels Mackenzie Schriller kills two young men and now demands Kim Kardashian come to her aid amongst other diva commands. Good evening, I'm Nancy Grace, this is Crime Stories. I want to thank you for being with us.

[Joel Waldman]

17 year old Mackenzie Shirilla is driving home after a party with her boyfriend and a friend as passengers. Surveillance footage shows the Toyota Camry suddenly accelerating, reaching speeds of up to 100mph as it moves through the area. Within seconds, a loud violent crash is captured on camera.

[Motorcycle Witness]

There's a car that smashed up against the building. I didn't go up to it because I was on my motorcycle. I didn't know If I'd get stuck. But they ran the curb. I can see the. They smashed the sign and hit the building. The car's crashed.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Let me understand. Two young men, very young men, are dead because of Mackenzie Schirrilla. Yet she is making diva demands, insisting that Kim Kardashian come defend her and is upset the Today show did not interview her. Okay, let me let that sink in for just one moment. Straight out to Joel Waldman, co host of Surviving the Survivor. What happened to the victims?

[Joel Waldman (Expert Commentary)]

You know, obviously, 100 miles an hour into a brick wall. What's really interesting, if you see prior to crashing into the wall, there is a slow, meticulous turn. And that is why this bench judge eventually convicted Mackenzie Shirell of these crimes. But they go directly into that brick wall. From what I understand, one of the two victims dies instantly. The other does not. Mackenzie Shurilla was never unconscious, was never unconscious at the hospital and had her wits about her the entire time. So I was stunned to hear that.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Before we go to Dominic's sister, Christine, listen to this.

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

I've never spoke before and I never told my side of the story. And I understand there's many different sides to the story and different perspectives, but I just want to say my truth and I just know myself and I know I'm not a monster.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

My truth. I immediately get suspicious when someone says my truth, which means what? Your truth is different from everybody else's truth. How can that be? That's my friends at Netflix. You say, I know I'm not a monster. Yes, you are.

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

Listen, it was like five in the morning and we decided to head back to Dom's house.

And

I remember turning on the street and then I'm waking up in the hospital the next day and I don't. Then my whole life is shattered and have no recollection of that morning. I'm not saying I'm innocent. I was a driver of a tragedy, but I'm not a murderer.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

That's from our friends at Netflix. She's lying through her teeth. Why is she saying, I woke up in the hospital, have no idea what happened. My whole life is shattered, girl. They're dead. They're dead. Their families lives are shattered. Straight out to Christine Russo. This is Dominic's sister. She is the star of the Big Sister Unhinged podcast trying to preserve her little brother's legacy. That's what she's left with. That is what her family is left with. Dealing with this young man's death, needless, senseless death. Christine, when you hear her talking, it's

[Nancy Grace]

got to just push you over the edge.

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

Yeah. It really makes me sick, honestly. I just. Watching that. I haven't seen that. I try not to listen or watch many things, but it just makes me absolutely sick.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

What happened when you learned Dominic had been killed?

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

The second that I learned or my family learned that Dominic had been killed, we. Like I say, there's before Dom and after Dom, it's completely shattered. I can't even put into words how tragic this has been for our entire family. So much so that it's like I don't see this ever. This will never get better. There will be no, you know, anything getting better ever for us.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

What happened when you learned your brother had been killed?

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

I got a phone call from my dad and I. He kept calling over and over, and I get no reception. And all I could hear was him saying, dom's gone. Dom's gone. But I have a few Doms in my family. I didn't want to thank my brother, you know, and it was. We immediately left the island. My brother Mikey rear ended somebody trying to get home so we could all be together. Smash somebody's car up from behind, just completely. Ever since then, like, it's just tragic.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Christine Russo joining us. This is Dominic's sister. It wasn't the moment. It wasn't a split second. It was her intentionally crashing into a fixed object, killing Dominic. That's what changed everyone's life forever. How many different people or things can she blame?

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

Yeah, it wasn't a split second at all. She actually. If you watch the video, you could tell they're fighting in the car on the main road. She keeps breaking her car. You could see the car lights breaking for no reason. The road was completely. Is completely dead. Nobody's on the road. And before the turn that you don't even have to brake on, she's like, slamming on her lights or slamming on her brakes. You could see the brake lights in the car, and from then on, she just floored it 100%. And it wasn't a split second. This was. This took. It's a long street. She floored it with no brakes the entire time into the building.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

The two arguing at the time. What is your theory, Christine? Why did she do this?

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

Dominic had. They were steady breaking up. Dominic had been trying to get rid of her and break up with her for quite some time. Confided in his best friends and, you know, our closest siblings and things that he was. He was steady trying to break up with her. And I just think that she couldn't. She couldn't have that. She couldn't understand that she wasn't willing to let him go.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Joel Waldman explained to me the physical evidence that she intentionally crashed and killed. Not just Dominic, two people dead.

[Joel Waldman (Expert Commentary)]

Yeah. Well, there are absolutely no skid marks. Obviously they did a crash investigation and homicide investigation kind of concurrently. But like I said, there was a slow turn just prior to this acceleration. So we know that she was in control of the car at least up to this point where we're seeing this car turn. There was, you know, there was, there was no health emergency. There was never any evidence of a health emergency. She claimed, and the family claims that she suffers from something called pot, which affects your blood pressure. There was never any evidence admitted of

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

her with a big fat blunt. Hold on, Wait, wait. Excuse me. Joel, please look at your. Can we replay that? Is that her at the wheel with a big blunt?

[Joel Waldman (Expert Commentary)]

Yeah, so. So Nancy, they, you know, they tested her. There was psilocybin and marijuana in the car. She did test positive for that blunt. Not that specific one. That's a different time. But she tested positive for marijuana, not for the psilocybin, which are mushrooms, and not for alcohol. But yeah, I mean, he's. She's just absolutely reckless, driving around on prior occasions. And it's sad to say, but it's not all that surprising. I mean, it's really. It makes me indignant. Nancy. I know you get upset about these things, but to think that a then 17 year old just totally had no respect for these other two lives and is able to just do this, it just blows the mind. What is going on with this generation, with this society, with social media. What is happening?

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Joel, tell me about the victims, Dominic and Davion.

[Joel Waldman (Expert Commentary)]

Yeah, well, I mean, they were friends. Davion was a star football player at the high school Dominion. He was a very studious person, took school seriously. He was really into fashion. He had just set up an llc and he literally had his entire life ahead of him. I mean, Dom was 20 years old. I mean, that's, you know, you and I, Nancy, that's a little kid in his own mind, a young adult. And he had everything going as did Davion Flanagan. I mean, absolutely everything in front of them, completely stolen and ripped out from them. And, you know, I felt Christine's pain. Christine, I think we'll talk about this. Her father has an illness and has not been well since this crash. And Nancy, you know better than anybody about the, you know, ripple effect with victims and their family and I'm sure Davian's family, uh, they are just gutted and crushed. And I don't know that they will ever, uh, be the same.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Well, to make matters worse, they gotta hear this.

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

Kenzie, it's on the Today Show. What girl? I'm telling you, they're about to get ready for the biggest plot twist of the century, right? What did they say about me? No, no, it's not on the tv. It's just online. And they're just reposting the story. But that's okay. That's okay, right? That's all right? Plot twist, right? That's okay? Write your book. Start writing your book. You hear what I'm saying?

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Oh, my stars. I. I need a shrink. Dr. Cheryl Ehret is with us. She is a licensed clinical forensic psychologist specializing in trauma. You can find [e-mail]. did you hear the sulky silence? Wait, let's hear it one more time. Could you please play that one more time? These are taped recordings of the defendant, Shrilla, behind bars, whining because the Today show didn't come interview her.

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

Kenzie, it's on the Today Show. What girl? I'm telling you, they're about the biggest flat twist of the century, right? What did they say about me? No, no, it's not on the tv. It's just online. And they're just reposting the story. But that's okay. That's okay, right? That's all right? Plot twist, right? That's okay. Write your book. Start writing your book. You hear what I'm saying?

[Penn Foster Announcer]

Crime Stories brought to you by Penn Foster. When a student falls behind, the gap doesn't just stay the same, it can grow. Not every student fits in a traditional classroom. And when it's not working, staying on the same path can make things worse. When that happens, another option matters. Penn Foster High School is an accredited online diploma program built for flexibility. It is self paced. That means students can work on their own schedule, fitting school around jobs, family, sports or other responsibilities. It's a different path, but it's a path forward. One that gives students more control over how they learn. The focus is simple. Work toward earning an accredited high school diploma. Toward what comes next. If you or your family need a change, visit Penn for Foster. Edu Nancy. That's P E N N Foster. Edu Nancy and learn more. There is an answer.

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[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

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[Dr. Cheryl Ehret]

filled with images of alarmingly graphic sores

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[Kat Crowder (Inmate)]

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[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

I can never unsee that.

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[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Doctor Cheryl Help me.

[Dr. Cheryl Ehret]

What I am hearing is that this mom is walking on eggshells with her daughter even while she's confined in prison. That this young girl is so volatile and so difficult to deal with that the mom is trying to engage and collude with this attention seeking and trying to twist this into some kind of positive thing. This is a tragic, awful situation and I'm not seeing any evidence of pots, and I don't think POTS could cause something like this to me this seems a lot more consistent with a very severe form of borderline personality disorder where people get incredibly volatile, disregulated, are. Are obsessed with fear of abandonment and can get really scary and act out in. Sometimes in really extreme ways when they think that someone is going to leave them. And it looks like Dom was trying to break up with her for a long time.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Dr. Cheryl Ehrent, you're not suggesting that she's getting sulky about the today show? What, does she want some Savannah Guthrie to come interview her? Is that. Is that what she wants? That's not happening. I don't think that's happening anyway. And so you're saying that's because she feels abandoned?

[Dr. Cheryl Ehret]

I think that she had a lethal temper tantrum because she felt abandoned. I think that this happened because Dom was trying to break up with her.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Feels abandoned. She killed Dominic and Davion.

[Dr. Cheryl Ehret]

Exactly.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

So what? They abandoned her. She killed them. I'm sorry, Dr. Sheryl, are you actually saying she had a lethal temper tantrum because she felt abandoned?

[Dr. Cheryl Ehret]

I am saying yes. I'm saying that because that is a symptom of an extreme form of borderline personality disorder where people get desperate and act out when they think that someone is going to leave them.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

She does not look like she feels abandoned to me. Yeah, she looks like she's high on pot and everything is about me, me, me, me, me. Now, you said personality disorder. Isn't a narcissistic personality, a histrionic personality? Aren't those personality disorders as well? Wouldn't they fit her?

[Dr. Cheryl Ehret]

Those are. And people can have traits of narcissism and histrionic as well? Absolutely. That can exist. She does seem incredibly preoccupied with herself. And there is a real lack of empathy and awareness for what she's done to these young men and their families.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Feelings of abandonment.

[Dr. Cheryl Ehret]

Well, that.

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

That.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

My rear end. Objection. My rear end. Christine Russo, will you help me and help. You know, typically, I'm lockstep with Dr. Cheryl Ehret. I hear what she's saying. I agree with it. She verbalizes it perfectly.

[Motorcycle Witness]

I.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

But Shrilla did not kill your brother because she was having feelings of abandonment.

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

I don't know. I mean, I really think that. I guess he was trying to leave her. So I'm not a doctor, but I. She couldn't let go. And really, I think it was because she's so self absorbed. She cared about her image so much, about how she was going to look after. She had absolutely no Dominic, no job, no school, nothing going for her. She's just a terrible Person. She's the most terrible person. But I don't know, it's. I think she's so self absorbed. She just. She couldn't. She didn't want people to think that she was left or like she just couldn't let him go. I'm not sure.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Okay. Being angry because your boyfriend is dumping you and killing him is a lot different from reacting out of feelings of abandonment. Can I just see the videos of her again with that big fat bong and that big fat doobie? I'm not buying it. To Dr. Thomas Coyne, joining us, renowned medical examiner out of Tallahassee, Florida. Never a lack of business at the morgue. There he is. Toxicologist, forensic pathologist and neuropathologist. What happened to the victims, Dr. Coin?

[Joel Waldman]

Sure.

[Dr. Thomas Coyne]

I mean, this is classic example of a, you know about high velocity impact trauma. And so when the vehicle impacted the vehicle, and as we discussed previously, going approximately 100 miles an hour, the rear passenger, who was unrestrained, unfortunately, you know, upon impact and that sudden deceleration, his body more than likely would have been thrown forward in the vehicle, impacting not only other passengers, but the vehicle itself. Also intrusion of parts of the vehicle into the car. And so. And the front passenger, as I think most of the impact was to that side of the vehicle. And so think about just. Just how much force is being applied to the head and neck as well as the body. Vital organs that are housed in there, our brain, our heart, the aorta. And so those structures can tear or be crushed very easily with such forces, especially when you're going 100 miles an hour.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Another thing. They would have known what was about to happen, Dr. Coyne. Because they could see what she was doing before their death.

[Dr. Thomas Coyne]

Absolutely. I mean, there's nothing to suggest they were unconscious or incapacitated prior to impact. And so up until the point of impact, they would have certainly been aware of what was about to happen.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Before I go to veteran trial lawyer Derek Smith, I want him to have all the evidence, including this, secretly recorded

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

all over the world now that Today shows like national news. Okay, I gotta tell you one more thing. What? It was published in England. What? Yeah, it's world news. I think the Daily Mail just publishes it in all their publications. But yeah, the uk. It's on the Daily Mail in uk. Maybe Kim Kardashian will reach out herself. That's what I'm saying. I'm hoping. I'm hoping we're getting there. I was gonna do this anyway. So this is great. And they could just reach out to us. Craziness. Baby girl

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Christine Russo. Why are they laughing?

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

You Somebody tell me that, please. That's. It's the most twisted, most evil laugh to me that I've ever heard in my life. I don't understand why they think this is funny or why her being an evil murderer for the entire world to see how that's funny to them, I really truly believe and that's why I'm starting this. The Dom's and Davion's law is that they care so much about her becoming famous and popular that that is what they're set out to do and that's what they've always cared about. It's always been about becoming Instagram famous. Tik Tok famous for years. Even after she killed my brother and Davon. She laid in the hospital bed hours after killing two people, hours after filming herself making Tik toks and trying her and her mother trying to get modeling gigs on Instagram within hours after killing people. That's all they care about is fame, people talking about them. They think that they're going to get the attention of Kim Kardashian and somehow they're going to get rich and get out. I think they're completely delusional.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Straight out to special guest joining us in addition to Dom's sister Christine Russo. Cheyenne Topping is with us. And this is Shurilla's prison girlfriend for nearly a year. Cheyenne, what do you make of what you are seeing and hearing tonight?

[Cheyenne Topping (Prison Girlfriend)]

I think it's really crazy about like how big this all stuff was, especially coming from the inside and seeing it when I got out.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Tell me how Sherilla spoke of the murder victims.

[Cheyenne Topping (Prison Girlfriend)]

So whenever Mackenzie would speak of Dom or Davion, she did speak like really highly of them, which is expected of someone going through an appeal trying to get out for murder. So I didn't really like tune into it a lot because I knew it just wasn't genuine.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Is it true that Sharilla constantly walked the track to keep up her figure?

[Cheyenne Topping (Prison Girlfriend)]

Yeah, that is true. She also had a race trainer that I have no idea where she got it from. She must have bought it from one of the pregnant girls that came in. She would wear that every day in prison too. What is that like a race trainer? You know, you could wrap it around your tort, not torso, your abdomen area, pull it tight so it keeps you your hips like more in.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Okay, good to know. So beside working on her figure behind bars, is that so she'll look good when she gets out and becomes a star?

[Cheyenne Topping (Prison Girlfriend)]

That's what she's planning on. What she was telling me in there, she said she was so glad that in the crash her face did not get messed up because she was going to get a model. She had a modeling gig waiting on her when she got out, that she was gonna then wasn't eating the prison food because she didn't want it to mess up her figure as well. And as you know, the waist trainer and everything. So yes, that's what she's planning on.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Okay, hold on, let me understand this, guys. Joining me as a special guest, this is Mackenzie Shrilla's girlfriend behind bars nearly a year. What modeling gigs did she think she was getting when she gets out?

[Cheyenne Topping (Prison Girlfriend)]

I guess someone had commented on her Instagram post and said they were interested in working with her, which was showed in the documentary. But at the time I did not know that because I was still in prison and it hadn't dropped yet. But she had mentioned to me that she was getting one.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Okay, let me understand. Did she really believe Kim Kardashian was going to come defend her?

[Cheyenne Topping (Prison Girlfriend)]

Yeah, she hundred percent believed that Kim Kardashian was going to come and save her and she was going to overturn her. As she said, wrongly convicted case.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Wrongly convicted. Okay, here she is going on behind bars about Kim Kardashian.

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

My mom is like, well, maybe Kim Kardashian scene. And I was like, I hope, yeah, maybe Kim will now that it's like all over. I was like, I mean, that's the only thing that might be good about the whole media thing. Maybe Kim will see it. I don't know. You have to figure out because I'm real nervous and I want Kim Kardashian to be my lawyer. He's a lawyer. He gets innocent people out of jail all the time. Kim works hard. She is Ms. Kimberly. We're gonna have her get you out.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Kim Kardashian. Don't do it. Don't do it. Okay, back to Cheyenne Topping. So she thinks she's going to be a model. She wears a contraption to help her figure. She walks the track all the time. Does she ever reach out to the victims families to make amends or apologize for what happened?

[Cheyenne Topping (Prison Girlfriend)]

Not that I know of. When she was telling me in there, when I was with her, she told me actually that they were all cool and that they were coming to court for her to defend her. So I was like. Because that's one reason why I think, okay, maybe this was an accident when I was in there with her because she told Me. The family was siding with her.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Okay, how likely is that, Christine Russo, that you are going to try and help her get out of jail?

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

There's not a chance in this lifetime or next or the following. There's not even a slight chance that not one single person in our family or a distant relative would ever do such a thing.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Cheyenne Topping, you mentioned that she's absolutely certain she's getting a modeling gig when she gets out, right?

[Cheyenne Topping (Prison Girlfriend)]

Yeah, she. She truly believes that she is.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Guys, she is extremely interested in the so called hot felon. Listen, I just.

[Cheyenne Topping (Prison Girlfriend)]

I know.

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

I have this feeling that something's gonna happen. Like with all these people reaching out, it like makes me feel like. Yeah, like you remember that one guy who got arrested for murder and he became like a model now. Like, I watched a movie with him. You did? Yes. It's called the Secret Society. It's good as he was arrested for murder. He probably didn't even do anything.

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Of course I see my co worker in line at the pharmacy. Can you tell I'm picking up prescription hemorrhoid cream? I'm probably standing weird. Why is he smiling? He knows he's gonna call me Hemorrhoid Lloyd tomorrow.

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

I know it.

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[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Straight out to Veteran trial lawyer Derek Smith has tried a lot of cases and you can find [e-mail] come Derek okay, so let's just pretend you get a new trial. Let's just pretend, which is not going to happen. Let's just pretend all of this is going to come into evidence, all of these phone calls, because the law is the jury can consider what happened before, during and after the event.

[Derek Smith (Trial Lawyer)]

Well, I mean, they're going to try, I mean, as far as the prosecution goes to get this into evidence. But unfortunately for them, she does have fantastic legal representation presentation. Her case is in my home jurisdiction here in Cleveland. I've been following it closely since it happened. You know, so they'll do their best to try to get all that stuff in. But I have a feeling that if that does, you know, get remanded for a new trial, that they're not going to be able to because it's overly prejudicial. A lot of speculation, a lot of back and forth with mom and things like that and her outstanding legal defense will make sure that that does not get in.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Put him up. Derek Smith, when you say it's a lot of speculation, it's not speculation as to whether it is her on the phone and the mom on the phone. So that is not a grounds for suppression of these tapes. They are speculating about when Savannah Guthrie is going to come interview her for the Today show. That's the only speculation going on around here. But wait a minute, hold on. Listen to this, Derek. And you might as well, you know, start quickly coming up with something to say.

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

Please don't forget to change my Instagram bio. Try to get into that one Instagram account and change my name to that other ain't. Peyton, you doing something wrong. You're doing something wrong. Kenzie. That may. That may look bad right now. Okay, I'll put free Kenzie on there, but that's gonna look bad. Innocent. And delete my bio. Just do the hashtags in my bio.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Derek, the mom is saying that might look a tiny bit bad right now.

[Derek Smith (Trial Lawyer)]

Well, the case.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Really? Yeah, it looks bad. It is prejudicial because everything she said is like. It's like a treasure trove of information for the prosecution to show her frame of mind.

[Derek Smith (Trial Lawyer)]

Oh, no, absolutely. There's got to be a mens rea, you know, to make these charges stick, you know, the intent. But in her mind, she's innocent. Nancy, in this case is still on appeal. So, you know, if this case does get remanded back, you got an innocent. Got an innocent girl in jail that now gets another day in court. And unfortunately, I don't think they're gonna be able to get some of these jail calls, any of these things admitted into evidence, because that really doesn't have to do with the underlying intent for the underlying offense that she was convicted of, you know, by a judge in this case. It was tried to the bench. It was not to a jury.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Okay, well, I appreciate that. And somehow, Derek, you've managed to spin all that hay into gold yet again. Kat Crowder joining me right now, inmate who did time with Sharilla. Kat, thank you for being with us. What was she like behind bars?

[Kat Crowder (Inmate)]

Mackenzie Cirilla was completely different than the girl that was portrayed in the documentary. She was very similar to these videos that we're seeing here. Very much. You know, makeup done every single day, had her clothes altered to fit her tight hair done, gems in her hair. Very girly and attention seeking. Look at me. Look at me. Look at me.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Okay? I want you to listen to her making another demand to her mother, demanding she wants her iPad. That's the last thing the Jill wants, is to hear somebody's mommy whining that their killer daughter doesn't have an iPad.

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

Listen, I really want my iPad, though. Do they have any idea of when they're going to bring it to you? Do you have any idea? Probably not, no. I'm about to ask. Can you call and ask, please, Please? No, I can't, because. That's because last time I called about your thing, they were like, if I do that, then that special treatment, you know, you'll get it when you get it. Why, man?

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Has anybody on this panel ever heard of pig Latin? My name is Ansy. N. Race Gray, okay? It's put you a on the end of every word. Okay? These two spoke in code. I. E. Pig Latin. Listen.

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

Oh, God. Oh, my God is right. Yes. Which one? Oh, great. Don't forget. Don't forget you said. Can I say it out? Can I say it in return just to make sure? Oh, yeah, I can talk. Ray, you're saying rape. Yeah. Don't forget that might not be what really happened. She's being accused of that. Because people say that all the time to get other people in trouble. Will you see that's happening to you?

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

What in the world? Cat Crowder joining me in May, who did time with Sharilla. What is she doing?

[Kat Crowder (Inmate)]

I mean, I have absolutely no idea. You know, there's been a lot of speculation about what that language is, from gypsy to pig Latin, all these things. I think it's just mind blowing how fast and quickly they understand what each other is saying, because I can't even begin to dissect that. When I was incarcerated with her, I personally never heard her speak in that language.

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

Blacking out like crazy. Remember, don't drive, because that's murder if you drive with that. I mean, for real, right? That's so wrong. And did you put that in your license? I should really update my. You have one minute left. There's people with epilepsy. You do not have to put that on your license that you have epilepsy. Like literal epilepsy.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Okay, let me understand what I'm hearing. Joel Waldman is joining us. Co host, star of Surviving the Survivor. She's now trying to claim that she blacked out and that's what happened. Then how did she keep her foot on the gas?

[Kat Crowder (Inmate)]

A hundred percent, you know, while I was in there, and I kind of proclaim myself as a very girly girl. I could never get the energy to wake up at 6 o' clock in the morning and put on a full face of makeup and do my hair because, one, I'm sitting in prison. And two, who am I trying to look good for these. This is not a club or a school dance or something of the sorts. So it very. It gave off, you know, like, I want this attention. I think I'm holier than thou. I'm the Mackenzie Cirilla. And she walked the yard every single day, all day long. She went to the gym, she went line dancing, she went to all the classes. And it Was almost as if she was treating it like a popularity contest.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

You know, that personality, it's all about me is not going to help anything at a retrial. There is no way this woman could ever get on the stand. Derek Smith.

[Derek Smith (Trial Lawyer)]

Oh, no. She again, as you know, she has a right not to take the stand and she didn't the first time. So I don't anticipate if this does get remanded for another one, for anything to change in that regard. But it is her constitutional right if she wants to get up there and speak her mind, speak her piece about, you know, what she thinks were the events leading up to this tragic event. She has every right to do that. But I'm pretty sure her excellent legal team will talk some sense into her about that.

[Nancy Grace]

I love what you just said, Derek Smith.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

She can get on the stand and say what she thinks happened in her own mind, which is not what happened at all. Okay, hold on. When we wonder what? Why someone behaves this way where everything is about them. Have you ever heard the phrase the apple doesn't fall far from the tree?

[Motorcycle Witness]

I hope karma comes back and bites everybody. That's against you and the so hard that they all disappear. That's all I said. And if I had a magic wand. If I had a magic wand, I wouldn't go back and help Davn first. I'd make everybody else. I'd crook my fingers and everybody would disappear. That's what I would do. That's how angry I am. They screwed you so bad.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Dr. Cheryl Ehrett joining us. They're feeding the monster. Nobody has ever said what you did was wrong. You're going to jail for this. And when you get out, hopefully you can start over. Well, they're feeding her this line that it's. She's the one that's the victim.

[Dr. Cheryl Ehret]

You are so right. And right now my heart is breaking for Christine listening to this. Right now, they are feeding the monster. This is is an extraordinarily abusive person. This was a violent person. And you know what? A lot, a lot of the time, most of the time, this is easier to see when it's the guy who is the abuser and he is controlling and threatening to break things and threatening to violence and all of this if the girl leaves. You have seen a million cases where it's if I can't have you, no one can. This family is completely wrapped up in themselves, but it's like nobody else matters. Yes, that is also narcissism. But this is violence, power and control. Intimate partner violence, but the abuser was her. And when she was threatened with being rejected and him leaving, which as we know is the most dangerous time in a domestic violence relationship, that's when the partner is trying to leave, is most likely to be killed. I gotta, I gotta double down, Nancy. This is that kind of situation where she acted out in a way, maybe she intended also to go with them, but she pulled out all the stops, literally. And there's some evidence that, that the boys may have tried to pull the car of gear and do something to stop this. But, but this was an absolutely horrific acting out rage. And now the, the family is trying to make it seem like she's the victim. Maybe they can parlay this into some kind of fame. And it's, it's, it's appalling to Christine

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Russo, Dominic's sister, star of the Big Sister Unhinged podcast, creating and curating her brother's legacy. I'd like to hear your response to everything we've discussed tonight.

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

Honestly, I'm really, I'm happy that you guys in the world are seeing through

[Mackenzie Shrilla (Defendant Recording)]

her

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

and that I don't have to sit here and my family doesn't have to sit here and suffer ourselves like we have been for four years. Because this, the movie just came out. We've been dealing with this for quite some time now, since the second she was arrested. You know, it was immediate, immediate, just denial, no remorse, no accountability, victim shaming, blaming. You know, my parents, the Sherillas have not stopped. They've been doing interviews this week where they're still blaming my brother for his death or blaming my parents. So I'm actually kind of, I'm glad to see that the world sees through her and who she truly is. I really hope with what, you know, this coming out. I've tried to make something, anything positive out of this tragedy by doing the dam and Davion's law or the foundation that I started for him. Just trying to make something, anything positive to turn this into. But I'm glad that the world sees her now for who she is.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

So Christine, I'm glad you brought up Dom and Davion's Law because many states have some Sam law, not all of them, which precludes you from profiting off of your crime. Not all states have that. I don't even know if it's half the country. But social media has far outpaced what Soto Sam laws protect what they do. And the law must be updated to address social media fame or that type of enrichment. What is Dom and Davies Law.

[Christine Russo (Dominic's Sister)]

It's just the modernization of the Son of Sam. So like you said, it was written. I think they came up with that in the 70s where it just covered journals, movies and like news deals. Now with the digital era, you have social media, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, there's GoFundMe set out. She's been getting thousands of dollars in donations by the way. They've set up different accounts. This will help protect, protect different loopholes so that you know, victims don't have to watch somebody who killed their loved ones get attention, fame, fortune. Basically I'm trying to prevent her from becoming Gypsy Rose, the next Gypsy Rose. And it is a, it's just a modernization of that and to stop the her or her family from finding loopholes and having her benefit off of my brothers and Davion's death.

[Nancy Grace (Host)]

Dumb and Davion's Law. Every state could benefit from that. We remember American hero Corporal Barry Foust, Arlington County PD, VA. He passed away from cancer after 9 11. He endured September 11th after 37 years on the force. He leaves behind his wife Karen and his daughter Natalie. American hero Corporal Barry Faust. Thank you to our guests, but especially to you for being with us. Nancy Gray signing off for tonight. Good night friend.

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It is like electricity blowing through your veins.

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