
Mackenzie Shirilla killed two young men. A lot of people, including the courts believe that a part of Mackenzie’s motive was her longterm, hostile relationship with Dominic that he, supposedly, wanted out of. Mackenzie and her parents deny any intent at all. They go so far as to allege that Mackenzie and Dominic’s relationship wasn’t perfect but it also wasn’t that bad. We will be chronologically recounting their fights throughout the years and leading up to the murders. 30k pages of texts between Mackenzie and Dominic from 2020 to July 2022. Years of texts messages between a killer and one of her victims? Years of texts messages between two teenagers that ended in tragedy? Or a little bit of both? Davion Flanagan Memorial Scholarship Fund Change the Game for Dom Foundation Petition · "Dom and Davion's Law" - Victims Before Influencers: Modernize Son of Sam Laws - United States · Change.org Full show notes available at RottenMangoPodcast.com
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This episode is brought to you by opill, the first ever over the counter daily birth control pill available in the us. Opill is a daily birth control pill that's FDA approved, full prescription, strength and estrogen free. Plus there's no prescription needed. Finally, the days of needing a prescription for birth control are over. Take control of your health and your reproductive journey. Find OPILL online and at most major retailers. Picture this. It is the end of a long week. You're unwinding in the tub, listening to your favorite true crime podcast and then chronic hives come back again in the middle of the episode. Like what a wet blanket looks like. Another spell of itchy, swollen, red or skin colored hives. If you have chronic spontaneous urticaria or csu, there may be a different treatment option. Worried about your chronic hives interrupting our next episode? Learn more@treatmyhives.com Rotten Rotten Mango is sponsored by State Farm Having insurance isn't the same as having State Farm. It's like showing up for movie night ready for a heart pounding thriller, but getting a three hour documentary on lawn care? That's kind of like insurance. Insurance may all seem the same on the surface, but when it comes to getting the help you need, State Farm is the real deal. You wouldn't settle for a snooze fest when you came for a thrill ride. So don't settle for just any insurance when there's State Farm. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Bada bing Badaboo. I don't think we've ever posted an episode like this. It's going to be very different. This is a standalone episode on just Mackenzie Chirilla and Dominic Russo's 30,000 pages of text messages detailing their relationship from 2020 all the way up until July 31, 2022, when MacKenzie kills Dom and Davion in a car crash. A lot of people, including the courts, believe that Mackenzie killed Dom and Davion because she had a hostile relationship with Dom. She felt like he was going to break up with her soon. So she, in a fit of rage, anger, whatever intensified emotion she felt in that car, she crashes the car straight into the building. Mackenzie and her parents, they deny that this is what happened. In fact, they go as far to allege that Mackenzie and Dom's relationship wasn't perfect, sure, but it wasn't that bad. Mackenzie's dad Steve says the word toxic has been thrown around a lot. I didn't see the toxic relationship that everybody's saying, oh, it was toxic. This is a toxic relationship. They argued I argue with my wife. You know, everybody argues, okay? From what I knew, it wasn't toxic. They argued, they broke up. He's over the next day with flowers and candy and a stuffed animal. I mean, it was like every couple of months, something would happen. And my wife was helping them try to fix their relationship, and they were never breaking up. Anybody who is saying that is lying. And I don't care if it's hurtful. They were not breaking up. They may break up, but they were getting right back together again. They were not breaking up. For anyone who says they were breaking up, it is a lie, a baseless lie, a narrative from the prosecution. But who's telling the truth here? Because of that, naturally, people want to analyze their text messages. I've seen people try to use AI to try to scan through these 30,000 pages, or they'll pick out a few messages here and there. And hopefully this episode feels, like, a bit more exhaustive. As we went through all 30,000 pages, like, human. This was just us sitting there on the dining room table for, like, hours on end, days on end. This is a chronological recounting of their fights. And in the messages, it's not going to be in the usual RM fashion where we try to go through all these different sources and compile a comprehensive overview of an event. I'm literally just going to walk you through what I read in the messages. It's going to be frustrating, infuriating, and exhausting. I'm just going to give you a heads up right now. Like, I lost my mind in those messages. The amount of fights they got into. That doesn't even make sense. I'm just going to give you an example of, like, how frustrating it's going to be. Dom buys a pair of $300 shorts for MacKenzie. Is she grateful? No, she's not, because she had to order it herself. He gave her the money. She ordered it on her card, but he sent her the money. So, like, he paid for it. Okay. All she did was, like, put in the address and stuff. But she's like, no, you didn't buy me the shorts. He's really confused because, like, what do you mean? You know, I mean, saying, what do you mean? And she says, I'm saying buying it off my card makes me buying it. I still have to go through with the stress of buying it and check. Checking it out. It stresses me out doing that. If you put in all the information on your phone, that would be you buying it for me.
B
Did she ask for the shorts?
A
Yeah.
B
And he's like, okay, go ahead. Here's the money.
A
Yeah, okay. And so he's confused. I think if I paid for it, I got it for you, period. She argues today I bought the outfit with your money. You did not buy me anything. I bought it for myself with your money. Which I thank you for letting me use your money to buy. He's so confused. He circles back to the first comment and says, wait, you have stress ordering the clothes, but I don't have stress making money. You could have said no to buying it. How many times do I have to tell you this? I would not have cared. He's so lost. You don't think $300 is more stressful than ordering it? See, you're turning this into another fight right here and I'm not doing this. Dom expresses I feel unappreciated. Are we working this out or not? Have you been reading anything I said? I said thank you for buying it like a million times, like I always do. Question mark, question mark. Which by the way, she didn't really ever say thank you. She just tells him, you feel unappreciated and I feel unheard. I guess things don't ever change. So it's going to be a lot of those types of moments and moments like this where two weeks before the crash, Mackenzie texts Dom I don't need to beg for your attention. Millions of people on the Internet would give me attention in a heartbeat. Let's get into the text messages between Mackenzie and Dom. Foreign. We would like to thank today's sponsors who have made it possible for Rotten Mango to support Change the Game for Dom foundation and Davion Flanagan's Memorial Scholarship Fund. Both GoFundMes are run by the families of the victims and we will include those plus all the information regarding Dom and Davion's Law, which aims to updates Ohio's Son of Sam laws in order to prevent violent offenders from profiting off their crimes. All these will be included in our show notes. This episode's partnerships have also made it possible to support Rotten Mango's team of dedicated researchers. We'd also like to thank you guys for your continued support. As always, full show notes are available@rogen mangopodcast.com Today's case involves mentions of illicit drug usage, reckless driving, self exit, domestic violence and trafficking. Quotes or statements may be condensed for brevity. Especially in today's case. I do want to mention kind of our process in picking out what messages we are going to highlight for today's episode just for the sake of transparency. Obviously we couldn't sit here and just read through like 90,603 text messages, which if you live in the US you can actually get the messages yourself through an FOIA request. In fact, I think if you're a little bit resourceful, you could easily find a copy online somewhere. But nevertheless, we went back and forth and back and forth on which parts to highlight in this episode. On one hand, we wanted this episode to be a very thorough look into the progression of their relationship. Honestly, to me, and this is my opinion, the messages from Mackenzie feel abusive. The way she's able to manipulate the conversation, twist Dom's words and suffocate him to the point of having him submit to her crazy demands. It's reminiscent to me of an abusive relationship. The way she just progresses for two and a half years of messages that we see in the beginning. She starts off much more reasonable before getting more and more controlling near the end. And it's like the way she progresses feels so subtle. It feels just like a tiny bit more, more controlling fight by fight, month by month, and then by the end it's like it's the most suffocating feeling. It was incredibly informative in a sense to see how that happens through these messages, which is why we think these messages are important to highlight. But we also wanted to be pretty mindful that there are two people in this relationship and one of them was killed by the other. One of them is not here to explain, defend their comments, text or actions because he, Dom was killed. We have seen some discourse online of some stating that after reading a bit of Dom's messages, they felt he was toxic in the relationship as well, or they didn't like how he spoke to Mackenzie or in general, which normally I do think these are really, really good points to highlight. But in this case I think it would be highly unproductive, if not victim blaming to a degree for that to be the main takeaway from reading these messages. Because there is absolutely nothing that Dom could have said or done that would warrant or excuse him being killed by Mackenzie. Nothing. This episode is obviously going to include both sides of the text messages, but we're going to be focusing on Mackenzie Schirrilla's words and behavior because those are the likely elements tied to her criminal charges and the judges readings of intent. Mackenzie Shurilla was convicted of murder. Mackenzie Shurilla was on trial. There will be times throughout the episode where in a fight, Dom may say something to Mackenzie that isn't particularly the nicest thing that someone could say. Or sometimes he shouldn't have said certain things at all. But we're not going to comment on those moments because while we may not agree with the words said, Dom is not on trial for anything. Mackenzie was, because he was killed by Mackenzie Shurilla. There will be no discussions in this episode of maybe he shouldn't have said that. Or like, well, he definitely shouldn't have said that. Or maybe that wasn't very nice of him. Because again, there is nothing in these messages that would warrant or excuse Mackenzie Schubrilla of driving her car at 100 miles per hour straight into a brick building, killing Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan. Nothing. So with that in mind, let's get started. The messages start from January of 2020 all the way to July 2022. And there is a lot. I tried to summarize where I could, but a lot of it. You really only get the essence when you feel how Exhau is. And it's really hard to summarize that feeling. They constantly, in the beginning, call each other bebs, like B E b s. Just non stop. I was losing my mind over the Babs. And while Mackenzie continues to breathe life into the concept of immaturity and irrationality, in the beginning, it is a lot less frustrating. She just seems very young and dumb, but over time that morphs into young, dumb and highly suffocating and manipulative. But in the beginning, she kind of seems normal. She gets very upset over small things and then fights with Dom. She gets stressed when he doesn't show her effect or when he wants to break up. The messages are almost relatable to some degree until they're not relatable anymore. Mackenzie is frequently texting Dom things like, why do you have to get mad when I just want to be around you frowny face? And like, we're very familiar with Mackenzie's five, four, three, two, one attitude. Remember how she always does a countdown? Yeah. She's like, answer me now. 5, 4. And she's just like, spamming non stop. Okay, answer me right now. But early in 2020, in the beginning of their relationship, Mackenzie doesn't really do stuff like that. She just goes, answer question mark, question mark, question mark, question mark. And she's asking Dom if she can come over. And like, normally near the end, in 2022, this is a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, fight, okay? But instead she's like, just let me come, Dom. Just let me. I'm literally begging you. I'm supposed to not have stress. This is just making it worse. Please. Dom responds, of course. You just put it on me. She begs him, please don't do this to me. I'm not even trying to argue with you. I'll literally just sit in your room if you want me to. She just wants to come over. Other times, Dom is not responding. Mackenzie is texting more normally, like, Beb. Dom, answer. Dom, question mark. Answer, please. Are you gonna do me like this? Question mark. It does seem like Mackenzie in the beginning is very clingy. And it appears like she probably likes Dom more than he likes her is the feeling. In one message, she's texting him, I don't want to chill with Carl. Then you're just gonna get weird when I try to sit by you. And I'm not dealing with that shit tonight. Other messages, she's saying things like, I'm sorry for pissing you off. Can I come over soon or are you working out soon? Some reason I keep waking up and thinking you're next to me when you're up. Just text me, please, because I want to come over asap. I want to have a fun day. Please let me come as soon as you wake up. You up, babe? Can you answer my text or call? We still do see glimpses of her losing her patience and it is bad, but it's like nothing compared to how bad it's going to get. This is like a walk in the park, if you will. She'll text him things like, are you working out or something? Can you at least tell me so I can come? I'm getting anxiety. I hate waiting, waiting for you to text me back. It takes so long. Please answer, Dom. Okay, I've been waiting since like 9am can you please just fucking answer the phone? Okay, I'm just going to wait for you guys anyway. So whenever you answer, I'm coming over. The shit is worrying me. Please answer. Dom's responses are definitely on the drier side. And Mackenzie will keep pleading with him. I want daytime with you. I don't want to be laying around. I want to do shit with you. Please, I feel like you hate me on the weekends. Please just reply fast, Dom, this is making me sad. Babe, please, I miss you. I want to be around you. Please let me come before four, then I don't want to come. Please text back, dom, answer me so I can come over at 3, 10, please. It would mean everything if you let me come over soon. I miss you and I want daytime with you. Please let me. Babe, please answer. I'm ready to leave. You just need to say I can come at 3. 10. He just responds, come at 4.
B
So she texts, like 10 texts. And then he will respond, yeah, usually.
A
But I mean, to be fair, I think she just, like, loves spamming people because these 10 text messages are happening in the span of like, a minute.
B
Yeah. So the reading is always like, she gets what she wanted. Very. Like always. So she has not. It's not a natural. Like, well, you don't instantly get everything you asked for. Right. Like, you don't get warm milk at 3am when you feel like it. It's just not normal that nobody does that. Like, yeah, give me warm milk right now at 3:00am yeah, it's weird.
A
It gets weirder because she starts attributing it to anxiety. So when he doesn't respond within two minutes, she's not getting what she wants. And she keeps saying, you're giving me anxiety. But it's like, no, that's not anxiety. That's just the feeling of not getting what you want all the time. Yeah, it's very strange. So he Responds, come at 4. Okay, that's fine. Please don't switch up on me on the time. I'll be there at 4. Thank you. She's almost, like, thanking him for letting her come over. He's like, to be honest, I don't want you to come then. Because he's like, now you're just, like, doing a lot. Okay. And she's like, dom, please don't do this to me. You're getting my hopes up then letting me down. Please just let me come over. 4:30. I didn't do anything and you're punishing me for nothing. And it makes me feel like I'm nothing. Please just four. Meet me in the middle. I asked for three. It would make me so happy. Please, please. I have work early tomorrow and I want daytime with you. Please, please do this for me. He responds, I want to watch football with my bros. I'll watch it too. Please four. Dom, I'm begging you. Dom mentions how Mackenzie previously stated that she's done trying. So he hits back with, nah, we're not trying no more, remember? And for real, I never be chilling with my Mike. Who's Mike? I'm trying. I always try because I care about you. Why can't you do the little things that I'm asking for? Pretty. Like, I'm asking for pretty much nothing. I just want to come over and spend time with you. The two of them start talking about what to eat for dinner, and it appears in the beginning, at least the Main issue is that Dom wants a lot of space in the relationship. He seems to value alone time, free time, alone time with his friends. He likes time to regroup is kind of what he insinuates. But MacKenzie wants to be around him a lot more than he can handle. So it's a lot of back and forth about that space, spending time together. And judging by the initial text messages, it seems like they are not necessarily a great match. But maybe it works because in the beginning at least, they're both accommodating to some degree. Like they can just get over this whole like 4 o', clock, 4:30 o' clock by just talking about what they want for dinner and the relationship moves on. It's not necessarily the case later on. Like they don't move on ever. Another argument seems to come from Dom saying that he's going to get some work done. Mackenzie is follows him. This is what I like deduce from the text messages, okay? Because like things are happening in real life and then they love to fight in text. Even when they're in the same house, even when they're in the same car, even when they're in the same house. It's very strange.
B
They're texting.
A
Yeah, they're texting and fighting. So Mackenzie, I think follows him to wherever he's trying to get work done and they get into a fight and then MacKenzie texts him. I thought we would do our work together. Like, I don't see why I can't come out and do my work with you. He says, remember, Kenzie, I have no tolerance now. You used it all up me. Wow. And it shouldn't be too much to ask to just work on my computer alone. You didn't say alone. You said imma do my work, so I thought I would come do mine too. I'm not arguing about this now. I'm not gonna get anything done. You don't have to just make me feel like I'm nothing every fucking time you get mad, don't just be like, oh, Kenzie, I want to work alone. I haven't gotten anything done since Monday and you were asking me every two minutes to go to my room. She's like, just do your work. He says, screw you. Stop getting mad over little shit. For real. Like, it's not a big deal. Like when I've been doing nothing. Whatever, go do your fucking work. Stop being mean to me. Maybe if we didn't have to hang out every day, I wouldn't get so mad at you. Maybe if I just got A little space. We wouldn't have to deal with these problems. Then ask for space. All you have to do. Like, it's not my fucking fault. You can just ask me, like, don't put everything on me. Fucking do your work. I'm so mad right now. Okay, I will say an objective note here. I do think that the way both of them communicate is probably not great, but they're also very young, and I'm not entirely sure at this point if either of them do or say anything that's out of the ordinary for a teenage relationship. But a few things to note in previous messages. Dom does ask for space a lot, and mackenzie doesn't like to give him the space he asks for. Maybe it's like an introvert extrovert dating. One party needs space, the other one wants to be around the other. Maybe youth adds to the way they communicate. But when MacKenzie is saying things like. Like when you need space, just ask for it. This is not really, like, true. He asks a lot. So he responds, okay, I want some space for the next three days. She responds, capital N word, Three days, question mark, question mark. It should be three months. The conversation seems to die down. They make up, and they go back to talking about what they want to eat for lunch. But they do come back to the topic where MacKenzie senses Dom is very upset, and she asks, did I do something? Sorry if I did. Question mark, question mark. He's like, not even worth trying to talk about it. Just don't worry about it. Well, I don't want to be mad. Like, I want to fix whatever I did.
B
So did he get the three days or they just moved on, same day.
A
They just move on the same day. He does not get the three days. And so he's like, it's the same thing that we've been over a million times but still will never happen. She's like, space. You can ask for space, Beb, anytime. I told you that, too. No, it doesn't work. Yes, it does. You can just ask. And you said I can come over. I wouldn't have come if you needed space. Okay, sure, we'll try that. Don't come over after school or tomorrow morning before. To which she kind of proves his point by asking him then. So, like, they're still in the same house together. So then she's like, okay, you want space? I'll give you space. I won't come over tomorrow morning before school, and I won't come over after. But then she's like, hold on. Can you hang out with me? Before I leave tonight, since I'm not going to see you tomorrow then because you don't want me to come over. And she's also confused why she can't come over tomorrow morning. She says, why tomorrow morning, too, though I work tomorrow. No, but for real. Like, my head is like overflowing boiling pot of water because I shouldn't be begging to be alone or to even chill with my friends. Like, he's very frustrated, and she keeps telling him, it's okay, just ask for space, babe. It's no big deal. But when he does, she keeps questioning everything. Like, why hang out with me now? Because I can't see you tomorrow morning because you don't want me to come over tomorrow morning. But also, like, why don't you want me to come over tomorrow morning? Dom responds, I spend more time with you than anything else. I said a million times, you can have your space. Like, anything. I can't even work on my schoolwork for an hour without you poking me every two minutes. And then he does caps like you said said keyword you don't actually do. I don't want to be arguing. I'm leaving soon, but you're gonna make this hard if you're gonna be mean about it. I'm not trying to. I just never had to spend so much time with someone continuously. It fucking sucks. Like, I'm with you more than anything. Like, more than I'm with my other friends and family combined mind. I'm sorry. You can ask for space, Dom. I'll give it to you because I know you need your space. No, you won't. We've been over this. Like, I don't want this to be a fight. I'm literally sitting here agreeing with you, saying, I'll give you space. Saying again, we've done this fucking 50 times. I shouldn't hate my life. I shouldn't beg to be alone. Everything you do, like, shouldn't make me mad. Like, why? And the worst part is that I always feel bad. I shouldn't feel bad that I'm being smothered. I'm sorry. See, now I feel bad. He expresses how frustrated he is that he can't ever get space. And she tells him that he just needs to say that and she can give him space and he doesn't have to be so mean about it. He tells her that he's using the restroom. So, like, all in this fight, he's like, okay, I'm gonna go use the restroom. And she texts him, I'm leaving at 11. Can you at least come out and talk to me before I go. I'm still shitting. And no, you saw me earlier. Just go, please. I'm just so stressed out right now. Like, I can never say anything, right? I'm giving you the space you need. I'm leaving and we don't even have to hang. I also need dabs. Weed. Please come out. Do not say no one gives a fuck about what you say. Can you think of a period when we didn't chill for more than two days? Probably only when we were broken up. Okay, to be honest, we probably haven't even had over a day apart unless we were broken up. MacKenzie ends up leaving, but texting him throughout the day, asking him what he's doing. So, like, the next day she doesn't come over in the morning, but she's like, non stop texting him all day when he just said I needed space. Okay? And he is on do not disturb mode and she's demanding to know why he is ignoring her. He finally responds and she wants to know, why have you been ignoring me? I've been, like, calling and trying to text you for like, three hours. Okay? Okay. See, you wonder why I'm always so sussed. Because you fucking don't text me at all when I'm not with you. And you text me back like that. Like, what am I supposed to think? I don't know. Text me back when I text you because when you do this, it makes me just want to come over. No. No. Question mark. Why are you just being a dick? Who are you with? No one. Then why are you being so mean? I just want to talk to you. I don't want to have to make snap accounts because you're ignoring me. And now my head fucking hurts. Thanks so much for stressing me out. All you have to do is text back and you can't even do that. Okay, I'll text you in 30 minutes. I shouldn't have to beg you to text me back. You just ruined my fun because now I have to sit here and think about you. Yeah, no, it's worse than that. Okay, Let's be real. We don't all have the time to keep up with the latest fashion trends. 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Customers who have already saved and invested over $27 billion with Acorns. Head to acorns.com rotten or download the Acorns app to get started. Paid non client endorsement compensation provides incentive to positively promote Acorns tier 2 compensation provided potential subject to various factors such as customers account age and investment settings. Does not include Acorns fees. Results do not predict or represent the performance of any Acorns portfolio. Investment results will vary Involves risks Acorn Advisors LLC and SEC Registered Investment Advisor View Important disclosures@acorns.com Rotten. So Mackenzie ends up leaving at 11:00am, right? And the whole rest. So she agreed I'm going to leave at 11am and I'm not going to come tomorrow. So they're not going to see each other the rest of today. And then she's not going to see him tomorrow. Okay, not like a big ask, if you ask me. MacKenzie ends up leaving, but texting him the entire day, asking him what he's doing, why he's ignoring her, why he's on do not disturb mode. He finally responds and she wants to know why have you been ignoring me? I've been calling and trying to text you for like three hours. Okay? Okay. See, you wonder why I'm always so sussed because you don't text me at all when I'm not with you. When you text me back like that. What the am I supposed to think? I don't know. Text me back when I text you because when you do this, it just makes me want to come over. No, no. Why are you just being a dick? Who are you with? No one. Then why are you being so mean? I just want to talk to you. I don't want to have to make snap accounts because you're ignoring me and now my head hurts. Thanks so much for stressing me out. All you have to do is text back and you can't even do that.
B
Wait, so she left at 11? Now it's three hours, probably like 2pm yeah, and she's flipping out after the conversation they just had and where she
A
said just ask for space, babe.
B
Just she just said that I want come over tomorrow. I'll give you space.
A
Oh, just, just wait because we're gonna circle back to tomorrow. Okay. So he's like, okay, I'll text you in 30 minutes. I shouldn't have to beg you to text me back. You just ruined my phone because now I have to sit here and think about you. She eventually, that night, asks him to FaceTime and asks if she can come over in the morning. The next morning, she sends him a string of messages asking to come over, can I come over early? Please, please, you have to get me, but please let me come. So not only does she want to go over, she wants him to come pick her up and take her over.
B
So what happened to, like, she agreed, I won't come over tomorrow.
A
Nothing happened. She just goes back.
B
She changed her mind.
A
Yeah, right.
B
Okay.
A
Yeah. Because it's like no longer that fight, so now it's like an hour later and she has a goldfish brain.
B
I see.
A
I see. Yeah. But please let me come because I work today and I want to hang out before I have a shitty shift. He just texts, why? Mackenzie responds with a string of messages. Messages, why? Question mark. Come on. I miss you. I want to see you. Please don't be like this, babe. Please, I want to come over. Please, Dom. Please, Dom. I've been waiting on my phone. Please answer me and let me come bed. Please answer. I've just been sitting here waiting for you to answer. Please, Dom, let me come at 10. It's 9, 16. The only reason I got up is because I thought you were gonna let me come over. And you're literally making me walk, and now you can't even text me back. Like, it's literally freezing outside and you're making me walk and you can't even give me a ride. I'm crying so hard saying, I miss you, and you're just sitting there like it's fucked up. Dom responds, my back won't stop hurting. So his back was hurting from basketball. I'm not trying to get dressed. I don't know, man. Why are you doing this to me? It's making me so sad. Like, if you let me come now, I could maybe get a ride. Mackenzie expresses that she's crying so hard, and if he doesn't text her back, she's going to be so upset and flip out. To which Dom says she always thinks that crying is going to let him let her come over. And he still remembers that she mentioned that she knows how to fake cry. But Mackenzie begs to come over, saying she's upset for real because she's. She's crying and she's upset for real. I think their relationship and communication styles are vastly different, but I'm unsure how much age factors into all of that. But I will say that both of them do use the N word slur throughout their text messages in the beginning, like, a lot. It is the most egregious thing at this point in their Relationship. And they get into arguments, and it's just. I'm just gonna give you, like, a forewarning trigger warning. Like, if you end up with the messages file, it's just a lot. They do get into arguments about whether or not Dom is going to take MacKenzie to his prom. So he's two years and 11 months older, and it doesn't seem like he can. So each school seems to have differing age or class limits for guests. So some schools, as long as you are a high schooler, you can be a guest to prom, but the student that is purchasing the tickets to prom has to be an upperclassman. Some schools, you also have to be an upperclassman to be a guest. Guest to the prom. Right. So there's just, like, a lot of rules. And it seems in this case, mackenzie is upset because he can't bring her to prom. And she says, it's funny how you act around Kyle. Stop acting like a dick. I do so much for you. Like, how do you think I feel right now?
B
Wait, so he. He can't take mackenzie. Did he take somebody else or.
A
No, he was just gonna go alone with his friends. His guy friends. But those guy friends have girlfriends, right?
B
Oh, what the.
A
And he's explaining, I don't know. I can't just not go to prom. So she's almost, like, asking, then you shouldn't even go to prom in general.
B
What?
A
And then I. I don't know if this is right after prom. It sounds like it is. It sounds like there's some sort of after party. They refer to it as the cabins. And he says, I'll let you go to cabins, though. And she says, no, and you're gonna be taking nice pics there and be happy there. When at homecoming, they had gone to homecoming together. You were such a dick. That was my first normal hoko. Like, yeah, she keeps calling it Hoko for homecoming. And he's like, come on, I'm gonna get you into cabins. Like, I didn't want to go to Hoko. Hoko Gay promise prom, my G. She responds, but now you want to look all nice and take pics when I'm not even there. Like, why can't you do this? What do you mean? Who gonna take pics? You're getting mad at me. Like, can't you just let me be upset about it? Like, it fucking sucks for me to see you go to prom with all your friends who are going with their girls, and I'm just gonna be sitting at home. And he reiterates, I'm gonna let you go to Cabot. But MacKenzie eventually gets distracted because she notices there is a girl staring at Dom. So that. This is when I find out they're at a party and texting and fighting. Okay, so they're at a party and, like, that's why she was mentioning Kyle. And then she's, like, noticing a girl staring at Dom, apparently. And she says, why is she looking at your pants? Why is she only talking to you? What the fuck? So are you only gonna talk to her, too? Weird ass. What the fuck is your issue? Are you trying to make me mad? I'm not trying to do what? What do you mean? I'm mad as fuck at you right now. Ask Angelo to come get us. I want to leave. So Angelo is Dom's brother, who I guess is their ride for the night. I did. Then tell him to hurry. I don't want to be here when she keeps looking you up and down. Like, really? A comment about your pants and your shit? How weird. Of course she's so interested. And Kyle's a dick for leaving her alone with us, bruh. Maybe because it's awkward as fuck right now. So, like, he's saying, like, she's probably making these comments because it's awkward. Like, what is? How can you just start texting about cabins in prom right in front of me and say I can't go? And expect me not to be mad and sad? I said, you can go to cabins. Kyle just fucking said I can't go to cabins with y' all unless I go to prom. Like, I want to wear a cute dress and look bomb with you. And she keeps talking to you, bruh. For a good chunk in the beginning of 2020, a lot of their issues seem like very normal high school couple issues. MacKenzie will tell Dom once he wakes up. There's a fucking issue. I need your help. What's up, babe? I need your help posting a pic. Where you at? She'll tell him about how she got her nails done. Texting him, I want to show you my nails really bad, Dom. You better let me show you my nails, Dom. He says he's with his mom right now. Facetime me when you go to your room. My nails look so good. When you gonna FaceTime? She texts him about dreams she has. Oh, my God. So we were gonna hang out, and you were telling me to hold on and shit because you gotta do something real quick. Then somehow I seen Audrey's private story, and you were smoking a wood with her at her house, and I was like, what? The then I seen another snap and I seen y' all were at. So I pulled up and she was walking out your front door and I walked up to her, but she was hitting back and you were just like, yo. And then I woke up. In another thread, Mackenzie is upset that Dom didn't kiss her goodbye, which he argues that he did. But she says, you didn't kiss. You just put your lips out. It's okay if you didn't mean to do it, but you did. You know, it made me sad. He tries to get her to read a book and she's. He says it'll help her. So he reads a lot of like self help books and she says, says, I don't like to read my brand. My brain is too scrambled. Reading will help unscramble it. And then the same fight over and over again about how dom wants space. MacKenzie says all he has to do is ask. He says that's not true because she's just going to non stop text him and beg to come over. She will argue that he's being mean to her about it when he can just nicely tell her he needs space. And then she's going to give him space and round and round in this very vicious carousel ride. And in the beginning, Dom initiates a lot of breaking ups, or at least breaks in their relationship. And most of those he says, is because he just needs space. He feels like he can't get space unless he literally asks her for a breakup. But MacKenzie argues that every time they go on break, something bad happens. And interestingly, even when they discuss going on break, Dom gives her a time frame. He'll be like, we're on break until Valentine's Day. Which is about a seven day break. But then MacKenzie will almost like negotiate. She's like, that's too long. It needs to be shorter. It's like a very interesting back and forth about like what is the appropriate number of days for their break?
B
Do they go on break?
A
Barely. Yeah, she'll just like non stop harass him again.
B
So then they never actually broke up?
A
Not really. Yeah. But I think near the end it seems like he wants to. Yeah. Ultimately that specific fight ends with Dom going off on Mackenzie and it's a pretty intense fight. And he mentions how he feels like she, she snakes her way around and always gets what she wants. Like he almost insinuates when she comes over, she somehow snakes around and like makes the fight disappear is the vibe. Which it comes off like she's very manipulative. She disagrees saying she never gets what she wants. Dom tries to point out all the things that bother him, such as, you know, the fact that Mackenzie is always texting his brothers.
B
What?
A
Always? Mackenzie's always texting his brother when he's not responding for like two minutes, to which he's asking why? Like why are you doing that? And she says in caps to get you to text back. Which I think is the point he's trying to make, you know. And Dom gets so fed up, he threatens to call Mackenzie's mom and ask her mom to not bring her over to her house, his house anymore, because at this point Mackenzie doesn't have a driver's license. And Mackenzie says if he does that she's going to self exit. He starts going off on her that saying that he's also dealing with mental health struggles. He's hurting too and he just wants to hurt alone and she won't give him alone time. Mackenzie does point out that when they were on break previously, Dom hooked up with somebody else. But eventually they make up. They make up from this fight only to fight again. And Mackenzie asked to come over, but he says he's going to FaceTime her instead. And she starts texting him. Dom, it's not that easy. I miss you. I haven't seen you and you've just been saying no. I'm bawling my fucking eyes out, begging you to let me come. Please answer, Dom, oh my God, please don't do this to me. It's going to kill me. Please don't. My head, my head is already hurting. Please just let me come and see you. I'll leave after 30 minutes. Minutes. I don't care. I just want to talk to you and see you. Please understand that, Dom, please answer. He responds, stop, babe, you can come over tomorrow. They have this whole back and forth where she says she can't because she already told him a trillion times that she has work tomorrow. But he offers that they can hang out for an hour before work and she thinks an hour is not enough. He tells her that only she can make herself happy because she starts like blaming anxiety like, you know how stressed I already am and you're making it worse. And he tries to tell her, like, you need to find happiness within yourself herself. At some point he tells her, kenzie, I need to find myself. I don't know who I am anymore, so just let me be for a little, okay? And he ends up texting her back, hey, sorry babe, I was being mean. I don't want to be mean. Do you want to come over and smoke and then I can drive you to work. But then they very quickly get into another fight with a very familiar premise. Mackenzie rants about how her mom, Natalie, makes her life hard. Yeah, yeah. She thinks her mom is really hard on her. And how Natalie always calls herself the peacekeeper. But then she does things like change MacKenzie's curfew from 9pm to 11pm so she extended it two hours. Right. Which is what MacKenzie wanted. But according to Mackenzie, quote, so I got her to say 11. Then she's like, fine, but I'm not telling you when I'm coming. So, like, she's not going to give her a heads up when she drives over there. I don't know what. Okay. Yeah. So then Mackenzie is like, like, what the. She wonders why my head hurts every day and why I have so much anxiety. I feel like she's trying to trap me, like, what's going on? She also states that Dom gives her anxiety when he doesn't respond quickly enough, which makes sense if maybe he's driving or he's out at night or he's doing something that would maybe cause anxiety. But just responding about what time she can come over. She tells him, please answer fast. I'm getting anxiety. During one disagreement, Mackenzie tells Dom, I literally had no one last night. Gracie bitched me out over some gay shit and it hurt. Like I was alone. I realized I don't really have anyone. He tells her, kenzie, in the end, you really have no one besides your family. And don't take anything Gracie says to heart. You know, she's not the brightest and even people's family will fuck them over. So he's just like, coming from a place of, like, you can't really need someone all the time. I need more than family. I need friends and support. I can't take the hate. I'm literally sad. I've been trying, trying so hard to get hyped and have fun, but shit in my brain keeps making me think too deep. And I've been having these dreams and it's killing me. And I needed you last night and you went on do not disturb mode and I didn't know what to do. It was terrible. I was at a really low point. If you think you need friends and support, then you do. If you don't think you do, then you don't do. You see what I'm getting at? Things will only bother you if you let them. I think I got a book that can really help you. It's not really long either. I Haven't read it yet, so. Though dumb. I try so hard with a lot of. And it's like a lot when you feel like it's surreal. I can try reading, but makes me feel weird. See, you gotta get out of that mindset. You've been in the wrong mindset for too long. You gotta think like me and grab life by the balls and only you have control over your brain. He tells her to read the book, to which she responds. Psychological books make me feel bad about myself or like weird. I don't know. I get off at 6:30. If you want to take dabs and talk about it and you can give me the book. See if they make you feel weird or bad, then you need to change something. All you're doing is limiting yourself yourself. It's not like guilt. It just makes me feel weird. It's so hard for me to change. Sometimes I just give up because I feel like I can't. I feel like I'm just hated on every day for nothing. I don't know why she has so many haters. Like, you're just a high schooler. Like who? Who has that many haters? It somehow morphs into a fight where Mackenzie says that Dom wouldn't understand because he hasn't seen her, so how would he know what she's going through?
B
Like they haven't hung out in a day or two.
A
To which he says, it's been fucking two days. I haven't seen my grandma in fucking three years. Stop fucking making excuses and stop giving a fuck. He does give advice aggressively, and it's a lot. It could be age, could be just different communication styles. But I guess he thinks it's best for Mackenzie, right? And he's just reminding her at the end of the day that all she has is herself. But she says, if I do this, you got to be there for me, Dom. So she's like, if I stop smoking weed and like, read this book, you got to be there for me. Me. And he's like, no, I don't. You have to be there for yourself. I can die tomorrow. Your mom could die, your dad, your whole family. Who knows? I don't want to go through this alone. Babe, you're not always going to have people there for you, so don't expect it or care.
B
Reading a book alone.
A
Yeah.
B
What is she whining about?
A
We don't know. Yeah, There were so many times we would like pause. We're all sitting around the table and remember, like, save me someone. And we're all like, what's? Happening. Like we would have to read the same page over and over again because we're like, wait, are we sure this is what she means? And it's like, yes. No, this is. This is why she's complaining. She's like, I don't like to think about people dying. I'm going through my own stuff alone in real. It's reality. Anyone can die. In a later text, Dom reminds her any day could happen and boom, I'm gone. A few days later, MacKenzie goes on to complain about being at work and quote, hella f slurs here today.
B
Whoa.
A
She also rants about other fake friends that she has. Bruh, I fucking hate AJ and Joey so much. Like broke ass n words that I smoked up and plus rides all summer and they can't even answer me to chill with me but they can hang out with fucking Amerie. Like shit makes me so mad. Fake as fuck. Like I fucking hate how everyone busy 24 7. If they not, I get ignored by literally everyone in the world. I'm so fucking mad. Why do fake people love me? Then she'll just start off a new morning with a positive good morning text. What a way to start a day. Good morning Babs. Today I got woken up by a fucking woodpecker picking up my house non stop. I woke up so mad, brah, that bird can fuck off. Then a few mornings later, bruh, I woke up at 6:20am and my room literally smell like shit. I had to get up and spray perfume. I was so mad. I'm laughing because Tom's response is crazy. Okay, sorry. She's like, I had to get up and spray perfume. I was so mad. Dom response did you shit, I'm sorry. Like we were literally losing our minds reading these messages. No, Dom, it was a phantom smell you polly shit. You sure it wasn't just your upper lip? My lip? Are you saying I smell bib? Yeah, it could just be you're smelling your upper lip. No, it's like when a ghost visits you and they have have a smell. Lmao. Definitely wasn't my lip shit smelled so bad. By spring of 2020, MacKenzie starts getting more aggressive with fights with Dom. And I mean nowhere near where she ends up. Just a bit more aggressive than how she started saying things like quote in caps, I'm not playing your annoying ass games. Later they make up and Mackenzie texts, Corona is now a global pandemic. But she spells it C A R O N A Corona. Then later she rants, yeah, what the. I hate Chinese. Oh my God.
B
Oh.
A
And. But she spells it C H I N I S E. Then she starts freaking out about not having groceries in the house.
B
Why is she. She didn't say anything. Just, just.
A
Oh. She's like, why the fuck are you eating bats? Like something like that.
B
Oh, because of. I see. I see. Okay.
A
Yeah. Then she starts freaking out about not having groceries in the house. And Mackenzie asks, what if people run out of milk? Or like important shit like that that. He reassures her that they have a ton of noodles and potatoes, so it's going to be fine because she loves noodles and potatoes. I feel better now. Thank you, bibi. Spring of 2020 they start getting into fights because Mackenzie doesn't like that Dom's guy friends take too much of his time away. And she says, I'm so done with broke ass and word taking time with you. Like, yeah, be cool with broke. And Dom totally works. Okay. It's just funny calling all the. And I don't know what this word means, G O O N S. So I don't know if I. Okay. Anyway. And all the G O O n s can come with you, but I can't and I'm way fucking better than all of them. She starts freaking out a bit more when he doesn't respond. And it just feels like it goes from I'm anxious, please don't do this to me to more of an angry quote and what you did yesterday, not happening tonight. Text back right now. Here we fucking go again. Question mark, question mark. It's really that hard to text me back. I'm for real done. Question mark, question mark mark. Leave me on red again. She says that he's ignoring her and choosing to chill with a fucking loser over her. I could for real someone up right now. I'm so mad. Tell him to gtfo. He's a bitch. Fucking taking up time. I could have been with you. Send his ugly ass the home and get me. Dom tells her chill out or we're not chilling today. I could probably fuck Carl up right now and I'm not about to chill out when you're with that slow ass. You can come get me at 9pm and Carl better not be near here. Answer faster. Drop his ugly ass the fuck off then get me. She starts sending text after text in caps. Come. Come right now and get me right now. She ends up walking to his house and waiting for him to get back and she's angrily texting him the whole time. If you don't come soon, I'm about to be so mad Come right now or. Or I'll find where the fuck you are and pull up. I'm done with your gay ass games. You play 24. 7. Come back. Are you dumb? Come back right now. You literally annoying. How do you just do this? I'm waiting. How? You're about to get bitched out. Come right now. Like, I don't know. What is wrong with you? I'm to just go into your room? You're a dick. She starts freaking out in all caps that she had to walk into the rain. She starts freaking out in all caps that she had to walk to his house in the rain. Which he didn't ask for her to come over. Like she just wanted to because he wasn't responding. And he has five minutes to come back. She says, I've never been this mad at you. I could for real punch you like 20 times. But Carl and AJ, they could be dead right now. I hope Carl gets his ass robbed and beat up and AJ can just suck a dick. Get in your car and drive the fuck home. So he's still not home home. And she walks in the rain to his house and is, like, waiting for him to come home. They make up and bicker for the next few days, and every time I'm reading, I feel like I have no clue if a big fight is about to break out or if they're just gonna get over it in, like, two seconds. MacKenzie texts. I'm about to be so mad. Why? I haven't ate all day. Okay. Then I asked my mom to make me mashed potatoes. Then she makes them. I'm excited as to eat them. And then I look at them and can already tell they're different. I take a bite, and they were, like, watered down and all week. Yay. Now my dinner is lemon water. Exclamation, exclamation, exclamation. So then you learn to make something for yourself. Don't just not eat and complain. That attitude will kill you. Just go make something else. I can actually make a lot of fucking things myself. Then do it. I don't like when you say shit like that. I know you're not trying to be mean, but, like, stop. Look, you're just complaining. You know? More. Just go make your food. I was craving mashed potatoes. N word. I'm for real about to be mashed. A few fights later, another variation of a similar fight shows up. Dom suggests that they take a break, and he says, kenzie, I think we should take a break again. It'll be good for both of us. We haven't been getting along and you need to make some friends. I stopped texting for a second and you flip. Like, I could be. I could be texting my mom. I got a phone call or anything and just flip. They go back and forth while Dom tries to explain. No, Kenzie, I need my space. I want to do more me, not we right now. Okay? And I'm sorry, but I think we should separate for a bit. Little. Little. She responds. And I'mma be honest, when you're out this late and being mean, I feel like you're with another girl. Like, I know you wouldn't, but it stresses me out. And not until we talk in person. So she's like, this break is not happening until we talk in person. Why? I don't want to talk about it in person. Can you FaceTime me when I'm home? I don't want to text about it. I don't want to have to deal with your emotions. What the. I don't want to deal with your anger, but I do. This is why we separate. We are not not separate. We are now separated. No, we are together. No, we are gonna separate. No, we are not. What is wrong with you? We are not breaking up. Are you trying to fucking hurt me? No, I'm not. I'm trying to help you. It'll probably be better in the end. She ends up going to his house, and he tells her if that's the case, he's not gonna come back home because he's not home right now. And she pleads with him. I'm crying my ass off. I literally hate my life. Everyone I'm so loyal to who fucks me over. Please be here for me, Dom. Kenzie, I want to. It's just hard right now. Instead of coming back, Dom posts on Instagram, essentially subtweeting Mackenzie, like, saying something like, girls be crazy. I don't know, something like that. Okay. And of course, it kickstarts a full unleashing of fuck you text messages from MacKenzie to Dom. Are you fucking dumb? Come back right now. You never do shit for me. You lie, fuck me over and talk to other girls. I bet. Hannah, with you right now, I will fuck everyone up. Get back home right now. I'm. I'm just gonna self exit. Fuck you. I'm done with life. I'm in your room and weird. If you don't come, there's gonna be an issue. I will straight up flip out in here. And there's a big one on the floor too. Come right now. You are Fucked up. Get back now. You are a fake ass. You fake. You a liar. She texts him fuck you 15 times in a row. She tells him she took three shots of his Patron, the tequila. I hate you so much. I drank hella Patron too. Bleep. Fuck you. If you sleep at Carl's, we probably gonna have to break up. I'm so done with you being a liar. Sad. You're r worded ass choices make me have to lose my whole other family. You're pathetic as fuck. Kenzie, we need to break up. It'd be better for both of us. Look, and if time goes by and we still feel the same way, we can get back together. Cause real love never dies. Mackenzie refuses and tells Dom that she feels dizzy and like her head is going to explode and that she tastes blood. Texting. I taste fucking blood. I keep throwing up, my head is pounding and nobody is here for me. I'm puking right now.
B
Now this is after she drank like alcohol, right?
A
Yeah, but I don't know if three shots, I mean like the way that she consumes like her weed consumption alone. I don't know if she's like a lightweight where she's just like. But again, it just seems kind of manipulative to drink. And then yeah, saying like, this is all your fault. He begs her not to do this to him and she says, I'm puking. Help. It's foam. I'm going to die. I'm scared. I mean this is like highly manipulative behavior. They make up. And then there's more fighting about space, hanging out, not hanging out. Don't leave me on red. Again, huge chunk of their fights along with whether or not mackenzie is going to come over or not. And there are times where MacKenzie will get. I will say there are times where MacKenzie will get ready at 3pm and wait until 8pm asking to come over. And it's very clear that Dom tries not to give her an answer because when he says no, she flips out and will probably show up.
B
So she get ready before even knowing.
A
Yeah, so it's like her fault, Right? But she does like she never gets a no from him. So like throughout the day she'll be like, can I come over? And then he'll be like, we'll see. Right? But then also when he does give a no, it's like a huge blowout fight. So I can see at their ages why this becomes a problem. Right? You know, Dom tells her that he doesn't know if he wants to hang out. He wants to hang out with his brother and, like, these. To me, I guess, as, like, a very passive person, maybe. Maybe it's like, oh, he's trying to say no without saying no. Right, But. Or he'll say things like, I want to run errands and focus on myself. And there's another fight where she literally follows him on foot. I think they were, like, leaving. I don't know. She follows him on foot. Okay. And Dom's confused why. He says, you should have just stayed there. I don't know why you left. To find you, because you're a fucking dick. So you left me here walking. You. I hate you. You're a liar. You fucking left me here. Out here. Fuck you. I told you I'm cold and my socks are. What? I didn't know you were walking. I told you I was. You fucking dick. You really left me out here walking when I told you I'm cold and my socks are white. You fucking left me. Everyone in my life just treats me like shit. It's always the people you love the most that fuck you over the hardest, and then you just don't care at all. She reiterates in caps, I told you. I told you I was cold. I told you my socks were wet and you didn't care. He says, I told you to go home because it's cold. In another version, there are many, many fights where Dom wants to break up and MacKenzie doesn't. At some point, MacKenzie texts. Out of nowhere, I think my leg is bleeding. It's bleeding in three spots and. And it's stinging. Now, we can talk or I'll leave you. And you can keep acting like a baby, because if you fuck me over, I'm going to tell my mom what happened today. My leg is fucked up, skin is peeling. So she's almost, like, insinuating, like, she's going to tell her mom that he did something to her leg.
B
So we're still in 2020 right now, right?
A
Yeah. Yeah.
B
Okay. And what percentage of their text message are them fighting at this point?
A
70%.
B
Okay, so 70 fighting. And then the other 30, they're. What? What are they talking about?
A
Like, nothing. Nothing. And it's a lot of, like, Dom trying to accommodate Mackenzie, but also, like, Dom will fight back more in 2020. Yeah. So in, like, 2020, he's like, read a book. No one's gonna be there for you. Everyone dies. Right? But then 2021, and progressively he just gets more and more accommodating where he just starts apologizing for everything, even Though it's not really his fault. Fault.
B
Really?
A
Yeah. Until like, June, July, like middle of 2022, right before he passes, he starts, like, bringing back, like, no, I'm ready to break up.
B
Interesting.
A
But it's less emotional. So in 2020, when he's breaking up, he's still like, it's not like he just wants space. Yes. But in 2022, it's like, okay, like, if you want to break up, I'm more than happy to break up. Like, I can't do it. It's less emotional. It's more like, yeah, then I think we should break up.
B
I see.
A
Yeah. And so she's insinuating like, he might have done something to her leg. But Dom responds, you shouldn't have been flinging around like a maniac. So it seems like it's kind of a weird area of like, I don't know what happened to her leg. And this is like, another thing that happens that's been highly debated about the whole car, you know, steering wheel thing. A few, like, two weeks before their deaths. Do you remember? So, like, I'm trying to get an understanding, but, like, he never. I don't know, if he did do something to her leg, like, what would he say? But it just seems like he didn't because he's like, you shouldn't have been flinging around like a maniac. Right. She says, I swear to God, both my legs are bleeding and cut open. They are stinging. And my head, it's throbbing. Like, are you heartless? All you had to do is talk to me, but you make everything so much worse.
B
So I imagine if Don actually did something, she will bring it it up non stop.
A
Yeah. And, like, record it. Send. Yeah.
B
I mean, she's already accusing him of, oh, you're with this girl. You're probably cheating. You're this, you're that. Right.
A
And then even this message I thought was enlightening because he's like, you were flinging around like a maniac. And she says, all you had to do was talk to me. Not like, you grabbed my leg.
B
Yes.
A
You threw something. Like, it's like, not an accusation. It's like, exactly. Why couldn't you just do something for me?
B
Yeah. Comfort me.
A
Yeah. And he responds, I'm sorry, but you did that to yourself. You don't even care my legs are cut open. I do. But you did do that to yourself. That was not cool. We should probably go on a break. Another interesting thing is a lot of times when Mackenzie gets bored, she says it's stressing her out. Like, it. She means it genuinely.
B
If she. I'm bored, it's stressing me out.
A
Yeah. She'll be like, I'm so bored, it's stressing me the outcome out. And it's so bizarre. Like what is happening in her brain.
B
Yeah.
A
She demands that Dom hang out with her, which usually results in a full blown argument. But it's interesting that she gets stressed when she's bored. Another fight. Dom says he has to shower and then he can hang out with her. But that kick starts an argument about whether he should shower or not. He's pro shower, she's anti shower, of course. And that fight lasts about an hour. Like he could have showered in that time. Yeah. But mid-2020, she's still able to apologize after fights, saying things like, I'm sorry if I was being a brat. I wasn't trying to. I was just hurt that you didn't want to come. I really wanted you to come. I really don't want to lose you, Dom. You're my babe and my best friend and I can't imagine life without you. Dom tries to tell her, you can be soulmates and not ready for each other. I really can't lose you, Dom. In another fight, Dom explains he had to block Mackenzie because he was getting heated and she was sending pictures of herself cross crying, which again, seems like highly manipulative behavior. Which she says, I wasn't crying. It was supposed to be a joke. Whenever you do that, I immediately block, what joke? So she's saying, I wasn't crying, it was a joke. But then he's like, whenever you do that, I immediately block. So he's like, if you send me pictures of you crying, I'm gonna block. So it seems. I don't know if it was a joke. Right. They fight copious amounts of times because he has his phone on do not disturb mode, which despises with a fire burning passion. And she texts him, I thought you were done doing that. Like, why are you even on dnd, Dom? Like, what is going on? Fucking embarrassing. Like, how the fuck can you go from having a convo with me to going on do not Disturb and ignoring me? Like, it makes no sense. What the fuck is wrong with you? Then when Mackenzie is not fighting with Dom, she rants about her mom. Basically, Natalie tells Mackenzie she has a dental procedure so she cannot get high on wheat. But then that gets canceled. She does end up going and she gets her mouth numbed, but they don't go through with the procedure. But Mackenzie believes her mom lied to her her to I guess prevent her from getting high. But she's so mad she says she could kill somebody. I didn't smoke for four days for fucking nothing. Dom doesn't see it as a big deal, so naturally there's a big fight. Dom tells her a lot of people have seen way worse days. Well, I'm not talking about other people, Dom. I'm talking about this house. The dentist fucked me over and now I have to sit here on two different medicines that I have no clue what they are. With a numb ass mouth. I don't even. I can't even do duck lips. He tells her. But yeah, stop complaining. People seen way worse days. Life is a blessing. Who cares? It's over. I care because I just wasted my day. She also spells wasted like a waste like your little hips and waist. Yeah. And I wasted. And she does it again. So this is intentional. I wasted four days of not smoking that I could have smoked. Who cares if you didn't smoke for four days place. I care. It doesn't matter. Now the fight goes back and forth before he tells her, stop bothering me. Like the I have so much and if I don't answer your text for five minutes, you gotta call me like out of here. Remember what I said about people stressing me and wasting my time? She calls him out for being mean and not sympathizing with her when he doesn't see this as a big deal. And the climax of the fight seems to end with Dom telling her, you're worried about your teeth. I'm worried about my future. So there is a big discrepancy where Dom feels a lot of like, pressure from like there's just a lot of pressure. Maybe he puts it on himself. Maybe it's just, I don't know. Right. But he feels a lot of pressure to make it out and make money. He wants to support his mom. He has a brother who, well, I mean this is all in the foia, but he does have an a brother who is dependent on their mother and he lives in the house with her. And he is much older, but it seems like he will need care for the rest of his life. And so I think that's a huge stress for his mom. And he sees his mom go through that and he just seems to like internalize a lot of this and feel a lot of pressure. Yeah, pressure, yeah. But you know, she's just bitching about her teeth and not smoking for four days. Days. So he'll say things like that. And in another fight the same topic comes up of Mackenzie prioritizing things Dom thinks is no big deal. Where Dom tells her, you complain about the worst days ever or worst days of this year when it's just some small things like they're barely. It's not even a big deal at all. But Mackenzie argues back, not knowing what I'm doing for my birthday is a big deal to me. You really don't know how stressful this is. Many of us have tried learning another language before, but when it's time to actually use those skills, we realize knowing a few words is not the same as real conversation. Rosetta Stone Sapphire is a major new release in language learning, combining Rosetta Stone's trusted immersion method with the latest innovations in education technology to help you go from knowing phrases to speaking confidently about the topics you care about. Mandarin has been a lifelong goal of mine, and a part of that is just learning how to play mahjong. You have to call out each tile when you put it down and I'm trying to play with my mother in law. It's really difficult. So Rosetta Stone is where I fall back on. Especially with their new Sapphire Studio, I can specify exactly what I want to learn. 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Dom cheated on her and she texts him, if you ever cheat on me, I'm a fucking kill someone dead ass. They continue getting into fights for the rest of 2020. He wants to go to sleep. She wants him to accompany her to her nail appointment. That is, you know, that's a few hundred texts back and forth of fighting. Yeah. Fight marathons lasting from 10:30 in the morning to 4:00pm he won't respond to her message within nine minutes and she texts him. Did you just leave me on red? Red? What the. Like you really know how to make everything a thousand percent worse. In between fights, they have moments of just normal behavior, if you can call it that, where they will talk to each other about what's going on in their lives and days with Mackenzie texting Class online so hard and gay. So that's great. There are escalating fights about space and wanting to spend time together. It gets to the point where Dom feels frustrated that Mackenzie won't let him ever focus on work or school or really anything. And all she wants to do is hang out and have him buy her things, but then won't let him work to make money. He mentions that he just spent $2,000 on clothes in a week with her. Dom expresses his frustration that he will do all this for her and she will still nag him about responding quickly, spending more time with her, and doesn't ever stop. Dom says, okay, you know what? Let's return all the clothes I got you and I'll have all the free time in the world. You know, I'll quit working right now and be your bitch. You don't need to do that. Question mark. Question my. Question my. If you really want to broomstick my ass, you fucking psycho. So Dom does go off on her. I just want time with you. Like for real. I shouldn't want to self exit. So Dom starts like expressing repeatedly that she smothers him to the point where he is miserable and like his mental health is declining and he wants to leave. But all she can focus on is, I know you didn't just call me a fucking psycho. I'll just pretend you're joking because I know you know, I can be a lot worse than this. Like, I don't know how many times I tell you that, that you can talk to me and tell me how you feel and I'll always be there for you, but you never let me. So he's like, I mean, why would he want to, right? But he says if I self exit one day, it's because of the stress. Don't even say that shit. What the fuck? Like, if doing what you do causes you so much stress, then chill out. No, it would be fine, but you making me want to fucking scream during the whole process. So is that what you're trying to say? I'm the problem? Honestly? Just fuck off. Don't fucking text me. You're making me mad as fuck. He tells her she drives him to wanting to take drugs so that he won't be coherent enough to feel stress or anger. And then she can complain all she wants about how they need to spend more time together because he won't even feel it. Mackenzie says, thanks, Dom. Is this what you wanted? You don't understand that you're the only person I hang with ever. Maddie hates me. Mallory lives Four minutes away. No one wants to be friend like I have no one but you and you don't even want to be around me. How do you think that feels when no one wants to hang with you? Thanks for making me feel worse. The last two days make me want to self exit. They make up with Dom apologizing. Then in the fall of 2020, MacKenzie doesn't even have her license yet, but she's test driving a few cars and she's contemplating between a Mercedes and a BMW. Then she asked Dom about his opinion on what do you think about a Yoyota Corolla. I think she's talking about a Toyota, but who knows with this girl? Dom says, Camrys are better than the Corolla US. And she gets. Yeah, she gets Camry in 2020. There is a moment where Dom heavily struggles with his mental health and says he's contemplating self exiting. And one of the things the two of them are talking about is that Mackenzie wants to post a picture of Dom onto her social media. Okay, so like there's like multiple conversations happening at once. And Dom says, kenzie, I just don't want you to cry over a picture. I said you could post the fucking picture. I just don't like this stressful shit. Stop being a fucking child. Being in a relationship isn't about posting fucking pictures. She texts him, come back. We can talk like adults because I know I'm mature enough. Dom responds, You're 16, I'm 18. We are far from mature. I'm mature af you're choosing to act like this. If you were mature, you wouldn't cry over a picture. They continue arguing and Dom just says, no, I live a miserable life. It's been miserable. I'm miserable. I'm a miserable person. She says, is it me or just in general? Everything? So me, babe, I care about you a lot. I don't want you to be miserable. Where you at? Text me back. You're wearing me, Dom. Oh my God. Dom immediately responds that he's talking to his mom and Mackenzie says, come in here after. So it seems like MacKenzie has just been waiting in his room while he's talking to his mom. Meaning Mackenzie has been spamming him like, like, where you at? Text me back. Right. I thought it was because she's worried because he was expressing that he was in mental health distress, but they're just like all in the same.
B
She's like, where are you at in the house?
A
Yeah, like come back. Yeah. So I mean, things can happen in the same house. That's not what I'm saying, but I just don't know if this is her being vigilant or if this is just part of her normal behavior where everyone must respond within a certain time frame that she's like concocted in her her mind. The few days leading up to his birthday. During his birthday that year and a little after, Dom seems to be really struggling with his mental health as well as his physical health. He frequently gets headaches. He continues to say, nah, I just suck. 19 isn't going anywhere. Neither is 20. So he's saying like he doesn't really see a strong future for himself. Babe, don't say that or any other year of my life. You're one year closer to being a millionaire billionaire. Yeah, nah, all that shit overplay. My mom said I'll never do it and just to go back to college. Oh my God. Why would she say that? You are the smartest person I ever met. Dom. You will be rich. As one day, Dom continues, I'm just a kid who throws temper tantrums. To her very little credit, Mackenzie tries to comfort him, but Dom ends up just kind of spiraling. And he tells Mackenzie to get some sleep since she has school the next day and reminds her not to smoke because it'll cause her to over sleep. So he's still like trying to. And she says, remember, don't let anyone tell you you're not going to make it because I know you are right now. I don't know right now. You don't. But you tell me all the time that you will be rich. So stop telling yourself you're not because one person said you weren't. Babe, I love you. Yeah, but like even if I did get rich, then nothing. It doesn't mean anything if I'm not happy. How do you know you won't be happy? You're still a kid until like 25. It's now 4am on Dom's birthday and after staying up all night with him, Mackenzie text you at you have so much time. Dom responds, I don't remember being fully happy. Maybe when I was little. The two talk a little bit more and Dom brings up that he is just not in a good place. And the two text until they fall asleep and wake up a few hours later. Dom does not end up having a good birthday and by 2pm he texts MacKenzie. How can I face the enemies outside if I can't face them within myself? Unsurprisingly at this point, Mackenzie starts whining and asks if she's the problem. And it's just like a. It's just weird. And then there are times, like I said in the relationship, where still there are normal times, like Mackenzie's guinea pig named Pinky dies, and Dom tries to comfort her. And when they're stable, it just seems like a regular schmegular relationship. Dom is messaging her babe, what if we were rock stars? And sends her a TikTok. What if I was like Van Halen or Prince? Well, who would I be? I don't know. And she says, lmao. Find a rock star with a girl, girl. They also do things like play mobile games together, specifically Brawl Stars, which is objectively like kind of a fun game. But Dom asks her to play, and they go through a round, and then Mackenzie is like, oh, yeah, I was driving. Which he's wondering how she's playing Brawl Stars if she's driving. And it's a game where you do need both your hands. Yeah. They also play word hunt and chess, which is surprising on Mackenzie's part. She doesn't like to read because it scrambles her already scrambled brain. But maybe she's good at chess. On October 26, 2020, the two get off of FaceTime. A half hour before midnight, and Mackenzie is blowing up at Dom for not helping her pick an outfit for school. Dom tries to help, and Mackenzie continues to get more and more anxious. She's sending him pictures of her closet and outfits, and by midnight, Mackenzie texts him. I just have the urge to hit the out of my head. I'm not going to. But that's how my anxiety is making me feel right now. Question mark, Question mark, question mark. Dom ignores this comment and continues talking about the outfit options. And she says, dom, I can't do this. I'm freaking out, like, literally tweaking. They make my body look weird, and now my hand hurts so bad. Dom tells Mackenzie a little past midnight. He's like, look, to be honest, just don't go to school. Like, I really can't do this anymore. It's been an hour and a half. Thanks, Dom. That's such good advice to give to your babe. That's most likely failing class. That's failing most classes. They chat about another outfit option. Then Dom responds, okay, well, then maybe if you focus more on schoolwork, then what outfit to where you'd get better grades. I'm done. The two fight in their usual fashion once more about all of this, and Mackenzie eventually ends up going to sleep. A few days later, Mackenzie hears sirens and texts Dom specifically if he's okay. He jokes, I'm in the ambulance, I'm dying. She says, stop, don't even joke. I'm for real. Don't. I'm already about to panic. He says, they shot me like Tupac. Dom then tells Mackenzie he's just joking. Halloween rolls around and the two seem to be back to normal. And Mackenzie even mentions she wants to trick or treat. She's 16, by the way. But Dom offers to take her even though it's really cold outside. The next few days, the two are super lovey dovey. Over text, she's like, my, my tummy feels weird. He says, it's cuz you need your bab. I really want to lay with you. I always do. I love you. I puked, babe. Dom goes on to ask her if she's been drinking water, eating, if she ate something bad, all the normal like your partner is sick stuff. He even asks her if she ate too much Halloween candy. The two talk about cuddling and Dom leans into all the cutesy relations relationship stuff, but it doesn't really last for long. November 2nd, they're arguing again and it's a big fight. Mackenzie, I'm just trying to chill with Sheen for a little and give him some good vibes. He's literally telling us about how Lexi ruined his life. Mackenzie doesn't get it. She's like, okay, I just don't see why I can't come. We've been talking about chilling all day and on God, I might just have to beat Lexi's ass and her baby. They get into a fight with Mackenzie accusing Dom of ruining her night again and being mean because he wants to hang out with his friend alone, without her. They fight, they make up, and by the next evening they're fighting all over again. Again. And Mackenzie asked Dom, does it make you happy to make me someone that's been sad for days? Even more fucking sad? Like I just hit my head on my phone and you just like stay there like I'm in shock just over the same thing. They make up and within a few days they're fighting all over again. All because Dom unads Mackenzie on Snapchat. And MacKenzie is constantly reminding Dom to turn his red red receipts on. She spells it red like the color, by the way, so maybe that's why he's not turning it on. But at this point, are we even surprised? Then they start fighting about Dom not hanging out with her and hanging hanging up on her mid call, which he says was by accident and she's still upset. All of this doesn't really seem to faze Mackenzie because every time again they try to break up, she's not having it. So she's like constantly complaining but then never wants to break up. He texts her November 23, 2020. He texts her around 10 in the morning. Honestly, Kenzie, I'm really sad, babe. What happened? I can come right to your house and wait for you. Do you want me to bring pulp? It's like a restaurant. I don't know. To be honest, I don't know what's wrong with me. Well, I do, but I don't. Well, what do you think it is, babe? Is it me? I'm worried about you. I think I figured it out. What is it, babe? I don't know what love is. I really thought about it, you know, and I have no idea what it is. And part of it is he blames a family member. Part of it is my family member's fault because he was a terrible family member and role model and I didn't feel enough love by him. I came. Guess that's why I'd rather refuse than ask cuz I never wanted it in the first place. So he's just describing like childhood trauma. And Mackenzie responds surprisingly well. Babe, love is a weird thing. No one really understands it. I feel loved by you though. And I love you a lot. I don't know. They move on. And another interesting tidbit in their never ending conversation is Mackenzie is at work and some and mentions that someone had a seizure and an ambulance had to come. And I know that POTS is not epilepsy, right? But I just figured if she really struggled that with that. She seems like the type to make everything about her. She doesn't really. She doesn't seem phased.
B
What? What does she not seem faced?
A
Like, she doesn't say, oh my God, it really scared me because I have pots. Like she just is like, oh yeah, they had to get an ambulance because someone had a seizure at work. I just thought it's weird that she doesn't play it up, which is kind of. I imagine her to be the type to be like, I'm puking right now because I'm so scared for myself. Then other messages. Dom has to tell Mackenzie in text messages, step by step how to cook baby taken. And around that time, Dom blows up on her. Dude, I'm literally freaking out. Like you live in this little perfect world with barely any problems and I have all this going on and you just want to stress me to the point where I want to just like kill people. Like off Kenzie you don't know what the going on. Dom does continue to struggle with his mental health, and at times he will spiral. And Mackenzie maybe tries to comfort him by saying things like, your body renews yourself every seven years. Years. She tells him, if you do anything, you're gonna break my heart. Like what? Hurt yourself. Just do anything that'll hurt you. It'll hurt me, babe. Call me. I'll be okay. No, you won't. I won't either. And not even a little hour later, Mackenzie whines at her very clearly struggling boyfriend. The fact that you left me on red three times in a row says it all. I'm done for today. Dom continues to tell Mackenzie about his mental health struggles. He's texting her about it, and apparently she's driving. And she ignores all of that and asks him, can I get my charger so I can take dabs? I TR to use my chromebook charger and it didn't work. Can I? I'm about to pass. It's in the kitchen. Never mind. Already passed your house. He says, yeah, I'm looking. Don't even try anymore. I already passed your house. Mackenzie continues to complain about her dabs and her pen charger. And even after Dom tries helping her, telling her to try YouTube to figure it out about how to charge it on a chromebook charger, she says, it's just annoying when I could have just picked it up from your house. Dom does his best to de escalate the situation and even tells Mackenzie, I'm sorry I was mean earlier, babe. And usually when I say I want to self exit is. It's kind of like after I start being mean and I regret it, so now I just feel worse. Like, he's saying it just makes him spiral. Yeah, but you saying that just makes me feel worse. It was a terrible day. Me too, babe. I'll take you out to dinner soon and we'll have fun. The nice crab place in Cleveland. I love you, babe. All I want is for you to be nice and give me attention. I just think that's crazy. Okay. Like, I just think that's crazy. And maybe age plays a huge role, but he's clearly struggling. Like, reading through these messages, regardless of how people will feel about individuals. Like, I think self exit is a very hard topic to approach. And he's clearly struggling, and her priority is not for him to be happy, is not for him to be stable, but for him to be nice to her and give her attention. It's just such an odd juxtaposition. In the messages. Both Mackenzie and Dom, though egregiously use the N word slur towards each other, particularly when fighting and, and even at times casually. Just January 2021, they start off the year talking about the insurrection on January 6th. So Dom seems to be talking about how Democrats have stated that Trump supporters were, you know, rushing to the Capitol to protect racism. So like that was kind of like a headline from the left side which he said he found the narrative dumb. He says, how fucking R worded can you be? Maybe because the whites ain't robbing and looting the city. Maybe because they just protesting, not hurting anyone, not hitting people with rocks or robbing people, just protesting. Sure they climbed some building, but okay, better than setting things on the street on fire, ruining their own fucking city. Dumbass. Honestly, I hope the black dude just gets shot up because they so fucking dumb. No wonder the cops shoot them. Protecting racism. How dumb can they be? It was cuz election fraud. Also they ain't running in business and stealing, they just went in the Capitol. Mackenzie says she feels like both are bad and she hates violence and destruction. She does say that obviously the cops are going to like, I guess white people better. That's what it seems like she's referring. She says if they, if they were saying a cabin. So she, I think she's trying to say a cab. If they were saying a cab, the cops, I'm sure they would be hitting them and killing them too. Dom continues to say, and you know it's about election fraud, not about racism, dumbasses, for real. It's the Democrats that do this. See, they're the ones that say, oh, it's because of racism. The Democrats drawing the line, creating racism, separating the country. Mackenzie responds, I agree with you, but they shouldn't have broken into that building. A few days later, Mackenzie seems to be getting some sort of blood work done and Dom guides her through it through text about how to take deep long breaths because she's terrified. But she starts kind of getting upset that he didn't rush to help her. She says, k, I would think I'm the most important or at least a top priority. Then she gets home and starts freaking out that she doesn't have an outfit and wants Dom to come over to help her. He tries to reassure her, Baby, you're def. Just making it harder for yourself than it needs to be. You can definitely find an outfit. You have hella outfits. Nothing is standing out to me. I don't want to wear any of the stuff. And then Kendra is the Most annoying to have you help pick an outfit. This is just terrible. Like, you could have just came and helped me real quick. Nobody.
B
Babe.
A
Yes, babe, you can dress yourself. I'm sorry, but like, I can't tie your shoes every day. I'm not asking you to tie my shoes. I'm asking you to help me pick an outfit. Well, five outfits, so my week is less stressful. I don't know what's so hard about all of this. Like, if you just asked me to help you, I would have helped you. But I guess it's only one sided. It's not one sided. You just make it really hard for yourself. I've helped you before. But I'm not losing sleep over what you wear to school. My anxiety is at its lowest when I look good. Like, I have to beg for help. I shouldn't have to beg. You have to beg for help to get dressed. Like, come on, Kenzie, you still don't get it. Like, let's not make my issue seem smaller because you don't give a single fuck about them. If you cared about my anxiety and stress, you would help me. I'm not the fucking average person and I never will be. So understand or don't. Because I'm willing to help you through all your issues. You just have to help me through mine. I will help, but you getting dressed, you do on your own. Wow. I just don't think it's something that I should help with. I don't give a fuck what you think. I didn't ask what you think. One time I asked if you could help me pick five outfits for this week so I don't have to fucking stress about it before bed like this. And of course that's what you say. Never ask me for help again. You can never help me with shit. Like maybe if you considered my issues important, but of course you don't because it doesn't mean anything to you. Babe, it's literally an outfit. I help you with anything else that I can stop gaslighting. So she's like, stop gaslighting? He says, I don't know what gaslight lighting is. Eventually he compromises and asks her to send pictures of potential outfits. But she says, well, it's fucking hard over the phone. If you just came with me in the first place, I would. It would have been a lot easier. But no, you had to stay. Like, I can't even fucking pick out a shirt. How am I supposed to send you a photo? He tells her she can send pics or he's going to bed. To which she's upset that he can't even pick out an item. Like, how can she send pics? He responds, how are you ever going to get dressed on your own? You can't even pick one item. They argue back and forth before Dom says he's so over this, he sent her $1,000 for her birthday so she must have clothes to wear because that's what she spent it on. He's like, I used to wear the same joggers three times a week in seventh grade. Like, who cares what you wore? Oh my God. It's not about not having clothes. You're not listening to me. So you have all the clothes, you just can't match the colors. If I don't feel comfy and confident in my outfit, I will have a bad day and it will stress me out all day. Day? No, it's not about anyone but me. But you probably don't get it. So how do I help you with that? Because I've never been able to help you. There's been nights, it'll be 9pm and you keep me up until midnight with your outfits. They argue about how she would do it for him and he responds, I'm not losing sleep over clothes though. Like, come on, if you were hurt or hungry, you know I'm on the way or something else. But it's an outfit. Mackenzie argues, and this is one of my most important things. This is what helps me get my day on track. Track. No, now I'm just going to get no sleep and I have to go to a full day tomorrow. Like no, I'm stressed off. Like I'm stressed off my ass and I'm probably going to smoke to calm down. He responds, I don't even watch the football game and I'm mad. I'm sorry my mental health makes you mad. You're the first person who I asked for help, but I just won't ask anymore. Dharma spends as much as I love you, my mental health comes first. Cuz I try every day so hard to not freak out. And if you're going to push me, I'm not just going to let you stress me out and make me mad when that's the first thing you I deal with every day.
B
Day.
A
Dom, me asking you for help shouldn't stress you out. Your outfits is inexcusable. Yeah, if you ask me to help you with something important like let's say, drive you to school, Mackenzie responds in all caps do this is important. Pick some pants, then shirt, then shoes, then jacket and you're done. Easy as that. I don't even want to move. I've been laying on the floor staring into my wall. I don't even want to go to school tomorrow. Like I just don't have the motivation. I can't even do schoolwork or focus. And my math and English teacher makes me feel so dumb. And she like goes on another rant. Dom also gets on Mackenzie for smoking so much, saying, you don't have motivation because you smoke so much weed. You can't think. I've already told you this. Like you get up and smoke weed at 7am this is what happens. She says she's going to try and stop smoking because her lungs are not doing well. But she thinks it'll be hard because she's going to watch him smoke while she can't smoke. She says this all just sucks. I just want to get high. She complains about her English teacher. Fudge, my English teacher. Such a fucking bitch. Like I asked for a pencil and she never has one and always says it's not my classroom. Like, like, bitch, you've been teaching in this room for almost a year. How the fuck does she still have no pencils for her students? And she also don't have a sharpener. And when I asked, she didn't even help me find one. I'm about to snitch on her. Why do teachers do this to me, babe? Dom tells her it's because, quote, because they jealous of how cute you are. They are afraid of you. Which seems to calm her down. Then he does go on do not disturb mode. She starts freaking out, texting, why the fuck did you go on do not disturb? Like I'm not feeling these old habits. Like the fact that you did that when you know how it makes me feel acting like a fucking child. You really want me to go there? I can dead ass show up to your house in eight seconds. Should have known you wouldn't say I love you. Dom's mental health takes another big hit and he tells Mackenzie that he didn't choose any of this. She's way too hard on him. She's always freaking out on him and he's crying. He says that there are tears running down his face. They get into another heated fight where he says he can't handle Mackenzie. He just wants to be left alone. The whole way she's been aggressively talking to him. Today is just getting to him and he can't do this anymore. He says he can't even have a clear mind being around people. He Just wants to be alone. He texts her, I never have a clear mind. I never have peace of mind. Kenzie, can we just stop texting for a little? She responds, babe, I don't want to be alone tonight again. Exclamation, exclamation. She demands that he let her be there for him, but he says there's no point since she's been mean all day and does the same thing is freaking out on him and it's just making him worse. To which he says, so you're not going to let me come over? Clearly the fight goes where every previous fight has gone before. No uncharted waters here. Okay? Mackenzie demands to go over to his house before 9pm that night night and explains, I'm honestly pissed off. You know, this weekend is ruined. Dom asks her why she's still doing this and she doesn't agree. She says, what am I doing wrong? I'm honestly so done with this shit. It's good to know you're fine with leaving me sad and feeling alone. I'll remember this night forever. Mackenzie says that he's never there for her when she needs him, but she's always there for him. To which Dom argues that the best way Mackenzie can be there for him is by not being there. Mackenzie unsurprisingly disagrees, saying, and made me feel alone like you made me feel alone and you useless. Be like that. Push me away. It'll be the worst decision of your life. He's explaining to her that she won't ever let him clear his mind or leave him alone. To which she responds, I'm just going to bed. My life, literally no one cares how I feel, ever. No one is ever there. I'm so done feeling this way. I hope you're happy. Dom says now he feels worse, insinuating he feels bad. And he says that all he wanted was quote a little me time. To which Mackenzie says, okay, day we could have had a sleepover. But no, she like does not get it at all. She keeps getting upset, saying that she's always there for him, which he's arguing he doesn't need, that he needs space, but she's not seeing that at all. She keeps saying he's trying to hurt her and says, I'm going to bed. I'm done letting you be mean to me when I just want to be by you. Like you're so mean and I still only want to be with you. Like, what the is wrong with me? Dom threatens to hurt himself and Mackenzie states she's going to call his mother. Mom. To which Dom tells her, then you better tell her it's your fault then too. And this is probably not a good thing to say, but it does send Mackenzie off her freaking rocker. She says, oh, hell no. You really want me to do it? Like, I know you didn't just say that. I know you didn't. I know you didn't just say that to me. You just fucked up. Fucking manipulative like, hell no. Like, I must be tripping because I know you didn't just say that. You are fucked. Who the fuck says that to anyone? It will never be my fucking fault you hurt yourself. If you're dumb enough to even actually do it. It. Holy fuck. What the fuck happened to you? I'm a call your mom. No, you just fucked up big time, Dom. You really just said one of the worst things you can ever say. You can say sorry right now and why you're sorry or we're going to have issues. Dom responds, kenzie, I'm sorry, but you're driving me insane. You didn't listen to me at all and I told you I couldn't take the mental abuse. He starts telling her he's really not doing well, which she brings the conversation back to. Wow, so you really just not going to let me come hang tonight? We're not going to have a sleepover this weekend. It's going to be like. Like that. Dom tells her, kenzie, listen. Right now, after my very hard week, I don't even know what to say. A day or two they're back to normal. And by the evening, they're fighting again. And we've only made it halfway through the messages. And this is where I leave you for the first half of the messages. I will see you in the second half. Where. I mean, can you believe it? Things do get progressively exponentially worse. Stay safe and I'll see you in video the next next half. Now playing get ready for the family reunion from hell. From the producers of the horror classic Evil Dead comes a brand new nightmare and the scariest installment yet. After her husband's mysterious passing, a widow seeks comfort with her in laws in their secluded cabin in the woods. But as they one by one turn into something much more sinister, she discovers that every family has its demons. Evil Dead Burn now playing only in the theaters. Rated R Under 17 not admitted without parent. When it comes to what your family eats and drinks, you know your choices matter. You're the expert because you know what fits your life. And getting it right starts with good information. That's why America's beverage companies are sharing more information about our ingredients@goodtokknowfacts.org no spin, no judgments, just the facts straight from the experts. For more than 140 beverage ingredients, visit goodtonofacts. Org.
Podcast: Rotten Mango
Host: Stephanie Soo
Episode: ALL 90,603 Text Messages of Threats & Gaslighting Between Mackenzie & Dom
Date: July 8, 2026
This uniquely structured Rotten Mango episode departs from traditional true crime recaps, with Stephanie Soo focusing entirely on the toxic, obsessive, and ultimately deadly relationship between Mackenzie Shirilla and Dominic Russo. The central theme revolves around the detailed analysis of over 90,000 text messages exchanged between Mackenzie and Dom from 2020 until the fatal car crash in July 2022 that took Dom and Davion Flanagan’s lives.
Stephanie and her team meticulously catalog patterns of communication, highlighting gaslighting, manipulation, fights, and desperation for control—primarily exhibited by Mackenzie. The episode not only exposes the slow escalation of abusive dynamics but also considers the psychological impact of these messages, informing the audience how such “invisible” abuse can accumulate and result in tragedy.
Early on, Mackenzie displays extreme neediness and clinginess, spamming Dom for attention and escalating quickly when not responded to.
The love language is immature (“bebs”), and issues mostly center around wanting to hang out and coordinate visits—seemingly typical teen drama at first glance.
Dom tries repeatedly to set boundaries and request space, but Mackenzie’s responses range from pleading to guilt-tripping to anger.
It becomes apparent early that Dom wants more space than Mackenzie can tolerate, leading to repetitive cycles of conflict.
Over time, Mackenzie increases the intensity of her demands, often tying normal boundaries to her “anxiety,” and using emotional escalation when Dom does not comply.
Mackenzie’s requests for time together become non-negotiable, often leading to manipulative or threatening messages when Dom resists.
Blame and victimization: Mackenzie frequently turns minor inconveniences or disagreements into crises centered around her own distress.
She sees ordinary stress or boredom as justification for demanding immediate attention and care.
Mackenzie routinely gaslights Dom, accusing him of neglect, infidelity, or harming her emotionally or physically (often with no basis).
She often threatens self-harm or insinuates self-exit as a lever for compliance.
“She starts freaking out in all caps that she had to walk to his house in the rain. Which he didn’t ask for her to come over. Like she just wanted to because he wasn’t responding...‘I’ve never been this mad at you. I could for real punch you like 20 times.’” (43:02)
“She tells him if he does that, she’s going to self exit.” (34:45)
When Dom tries to break up or ask for breaks, Mackenzie simply refuses to acknowledge it, sometimes showing up uninvited or “negotiating” shorter break durations.
Stephanie underscores the monotonous, cyclical nature of their fighting, where arguments repeat endlessly about space, responding to texts, who Dom hangs out with, and who gets more attention.
Dom’s pleas for space, sometimes even referencing his declining mental health, are met with demands for attention, guilt, or threats.
As the relationship progresses, Dom’s texts reveal a deepening depression and feelings of entrapment.
He expresses wanting to "self-exit" due to the cumulative stress, and his mental health steadily declines. Mackenzie’s responses repeatedly center her own distress rather than his.
Dom’s emotional distress, matched by his financial stress and family obligations, is met with more demands from Mackenzie.
Stephanie maintains a raw, conversational, and exasperated tone, expressing genuine frustration and empathy for the victim Dom. The episode blends dark comedy, shock, and sadness, echoing the hosts’ emotional drain after reviewing the communication.
Stephanie Soo’s exhaustive walkthrough of Mackenzie and Dom’s text history lays bare the evolution of a toxic, turbulent, and abusive relationship—culminating in tragedy. The episode serves both as a true crime investigation and a case study in how seemingly mundane digital communication can document and accelerate psychological abuse.
Listeners come away with a granular, unsettling sense of how Mackenzie’s manipulative behaviors—intensifying over years—left Dom isolated, emotionally battered, and unable to extricate himself, despite repeated attempts. While Dom is not portrayed as perfect, the hosts are unequivocal: no text or fight justifies murder. The full arc of the texts illustrates how abuse can escalate in slow, almost invisible increments—until the unthinkable happens.