Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - 11 Jaw-Dropping Moments in Mackenzie Shirilla's Shocking Jail Calls

Episode Date: June 10, 2026

Mackenzie Shirilla spent time in the Cuyahoga County Correction Center in Cleveland before she started serving her prison term for the murders of her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and his friend, Davion Flanagan. During that time, Mackenzie spoke with her mother, Natalie, at length on the phone. The hours of calls reveal how much Mackenzie and her mom wanted to control the narrative surrounding the fatal crash and more. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy goes through some of the calls in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.Host:Angenette Levy  https://twitter.com/Angenette5CRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oh, God, this was going to be published in some news story somewhere. My conversations with McKenzie. Exclusive jailhouse calls expose McKenzie Sherilla's closest confidant, her mom. Please make sure you get myself from the other security. I don't want them to damage control. From diamond earrings to damage control, the conversations suggest a mother-daughter team working overtime to shape how the world sees the convicted killer. I need to speak in code.

And you can't ask me why. You just need to hear me. Okay. Welcome to Crime Fix. I'm Ann Jeanette Levy. Mackenzie Sherilla is not shy. She never was, even before she was charged with murdering her boyfriend, Dominic Rousseau, and his friend Davion Flanagan, in that horrific crash back in July of 2022.

As you likely know by now, McKenzie was driving and was nearly killed but survived. McKenzie's boyfriend, Dominic Rousseau, and his friend Davion, were killed the two years. young men had their entire lives ahead of them. Prosecutors argued at trial that McKenzie put the pedal to the metal that morning and intentionally crashed the car into a wall going 100 miles per hour. After McKenzie recovered, the state said McKenzie wasn't grieving. She was going to concerts imposing on social media. She wanted to be a model. And the fatal crash, McKenzie claimed, was an accident caused by a medical condition called Potts, not murder. But during the trial, no medical experts or records were presented to prove that claim.

Judge Rousseau found McKenzie Sherilla guilty of murder and other charges calling her hell on wheels, and the case is getting renewed attention because of a Netflix documentary, the crash. Hundreds of records have been released, including undated jailhouse phone calls between McKenzie and her mom, Natalie Sherilla. At the beginning of each call, participants are told that they are being recorded. Hello, this is a prepaid collect call from An incarcerated individual at

Cuyahoga County Corrections Center. This call is not private. It will be recorded and may be monitored. If you believe this should be a private call, please hang up and follow facility instructions to register this number as a private number. To accept charges and thank you for using, Securus, you may start the conversation now.

The Shirillas are painfully aware that they're being recorded and they appear to try to paint a narrative of what happened that night. I do not know how you survive that craft. I'm so bad. I don't even remember being coherent, like how they were saying I was like answering questions. Like I don't remember that.

Like I, I don't remember any pain from the accident. I don't remember like... How did you even end up in this? Like, how did you even get, I don't understand. I can't even go there. I was like folded down. Yeah. It just doesn't make sense to me either.

Like I feel like, I don't know. You know, I can't go there. I wish I could get hypnotized in here to remember. Me too. Me too. I would remember so bad. so bad. I almost feel like it was like, I don't know. I don't know. I'm not going to say, but I have like my thing. I think I know, like I feel like I think I know what happened, but I don't know for sure.

But it could be wrong. A million things. A million things. Like I feel like it was another incident of like Dom doing what he used to do all the time in the car. Right. That's what, that's what everybody kind of feels. But I don't know if that's even true. Because like why would he do that with Davian in the car? Because he used to do stuff like that with other people in the car. I remember he didn't get a shit. And he was, like, screaming at me because I dropped the line. And he didn't want it to burn his car. But I was trying to get it.

And then he was, like, speeding really fast trying to scare us. Mm-hmm. Dude, Kendra could, Kendra could have, should have said something to it. Like, we should have Kendra to say, like, man. Unfortunately, these calls are not dated, but they're from the Cuyahoga County Correction Center. The calls between McKenzie and mainly her mom, Natalie, were recorded sometime in 2023. You'll hear McKenzie's mom refer to Jim. That appears to be McKenzie's attorney at the time, James McDonald.

Huh? The people on the phone all seem very nice. The people on the phone all seem very nice. And I also, I need to speak in code, and you can't ask me why. You just need to hear me. Okay. Okay. Don't be mean to gym. Okay. And that's all I'm going to say because he's got a good heart and he's very good at what he does.

Okay. That's all he needs, okay? We can agree to disagree about I'm not going to be mean then. There, there you go. And then when we, if we're able to talk in person, I'll go and do a little bit more about it. Okay. In that same phone call, the topic of trial strategy and men messaging McKenzie comes up after McKenzie and her mom share a laugh.

Hello? Hey. Did you see my message last night? Yeah, what the heck? Were you trying to squeak in a phone call? Yeah. That was so cute. I do it.

I was going to send you a message saying, you try and squeak in a phone call and say goodnight, but I saw your message. I was going to say, Dad is asking me about something that Jim asked me. But it's like, oh, my God. No, say anything on the phone. Don't.

Like, it's about the truth. He asked me if he asked me about a jury trial or not. Don't answer that question. Okay. When did he send that? Okay. Do you know what time? Huh?

No. Okay. Just I'll answer it. Just respond back. You don't say, good morning, loving. I said, where my, my God. So do you hear my message about the other guy? Yes.

How did you find that out? Because he told me. He said, are you okay? Okay, he said, are you okay with the fact that I'm 43? I work as a production supervisor for a court reporting firm. What is that? I don't know, but, you know this is global news, right?

Yeah. Don't talk to anybody. Don't talk to you. No one. No. And I didn't answer him. Oh, my God. Hold on.

Let me throw this way. It's most disgusting every. Hold on. Yeah, don't. And then he texted again and said, if you want to talk and gave me his number and told me his schedule. And then he texted me again. and then he texted me again because I'm not answering him

and said I hope you're able to get some sleep call me tomorrow if you like 8.30 a.m. to 3 I'm usually available. I'm here for you. He just like texting me hellie. Uh-uh.

Let's just don't don't talk to anybody you don't know. Okay. I will. I thought that may have been like a little fun little punt out. I'm already talking to Kevin Zimmerman. He cools. Well still don't tell him anything

either because we don't know who he is. He could be that too. Mackenzie's mom also discusses sending her books. She says it takes a really long time for the books to arrive and she mentions one written by kidnapping victim, Michelle Knight. Michelle Knight was actually held captive with other women for years in a home in Cleveland. And it sounds like she's actually comparing McKenzie to Michelle. Michelle Knight was a prisoner for what, 20 years, 15 20 years, halacious things were happening to her. And she's okay.

Not only that, but she's using what happened to her to help other people, too. I'm going to tell her I'm going to get that. I'm going to read that book after I read my book. I wish I could, it takes so long for books to come, though. I wish I knew what was happening next week. Oh, man, I wish I could talk to you in private. There's some shit being posted online. Your mind will be blown.

Why can't you tell me? Because I just can't. Because you're being posted online. There's some things. There's some people making comments and stuff, different things we got to look into and whatnot. This is crazy. My point is, don't know.

Does it tell you you got to go back already? No. Good. There's one lady re-shared your story. Hold on. This one lady reshared your story, and she's like, I don't understand how this was intentional. Like her lawyer said, she doesn't remember.

like how do you go to jail for life and when something happened you don't even remember like there's got to be more going on. I'm glad people see. Yep. Yep. So, oh, my back of killing me. Wait, is it like random people saying they're like? Yeah, no, I don't know these people.

We don't know any of these people. That one from Mississippi is, um, you know, obviously we don't know her. People who people can see. There's sheep. There's sheep who believe with everything that they read for hear and read on social media. And then there are people who know better. That's why I hate the Internet. I hate social media.

Ignorant people. In another call, Mackenzie Sherilla actually reads from the Bible. Their verses shared with her by a woman named Miss Lisa. But then the topic of conversation changes very suddenly. So I have two down. Yes. Morning, Kenzie. Reading God's words this morning.

since you don't have a Bible yet. I'll read you something from Isaiah 40. Who's this? Miss Lisa. It says, have you never heard, have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of all earth. He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depth of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will sore high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

I met another one. Oh, that's Isaiah 40, 28, 31. And then she said, I've read this past it's 100 times over the last 30 years and it never gets old. It brings me hope every time. I pray it will do the same for you. Remember, you always feel God's presence.

Faith is not a feeling. It's a choice of will. Sometimes I pray or read the Bible and it bounces off my brain, but I've learned over the years to just stay the course. And I'll ask Ms. Peggy how we can get some books in a Bible to you,

praying for you every day. Yeah. Oh, I love Miss Lisa. Me too. The great injustice is happening, and we're never going to stop. Yeah, it's weird. I want you to talk to the news, though. How many skittles did I get you?

Two. Okay. I didn't know to go crazy on certain things and not go crazy on other things until I heard back from you. Did you catch that? Mackenzie slipped into the conversation. I want you to talk to the news, and then her mom quickly changes the subject to how many skittles she got in her commissary. Throughout the calls, the Shirillas seem very interested in the media coverage and the narrative surrounding the crash. This next call appears to be earlier in McKenzie's stay at the jail when she first arrived from juvenile detention.

Hello? Hey, hey, how does it feel? You're not on Facebook, right? What? He's making sure. Why? Why has he got a lot on Facebook? Because he has no self-control. So did you go, okay, so you wash your hair that feels good? How about your stuff? scalp in your forehead. Do that feel good? Yeah, but I need to, I need a brush. I'm trying to get a brush. Oh, there was not a brush for me to buy. How do you get a brush? No, I don't want to buy a brush until I know I'm going to be here a long time, but there's a couple girls who are what brush is. Oh, okay.

I don't know where she at, though. I'm about to look at her window. No, my. She's sleep. Okay. I know. I wish you had one. I mean, so what if you're not going to be there a long time? You still have one, right? Huh? Who cares if you're not going to be there for a long time, get a brush. Well, it's too late now.

Yeah. The fuck who got a brush. No one out here got a brush. Only one person has a brush? Two people. And they both sleep. Can you finger through it? I know.

I want to get my scalp. Oh. At this point, McKenzie doesn't know how long she'll be at the jail. And she mentions how her mom came to. have the cats. You see what I bought you? Cinnamon toast. Okay. I heard the cat. She misses you too. We and Dom just adopt cats and now we're both not there to take care of the cats. Right. Right. Right. Okay. That's all right. I'll take care of these cats temporarily. That's what mamma do. I'm the grandmother of these cats. That's what we do. The cats belong to McKenzie and

Dominic, but now her mom has them. Then her mom gives her a pep talk of sorts, and Natalie Sherilla has some choice words for those who think that McKenzie is guilty. Funny, everybody knows. Okay? So don't think about that. People that know you know that this is bullshit. People that don't know you are ignorant and they're talking out of the I know what it is. Wrong is what it is. But that's okay. That's okay. We're just going to stay the course and fight, fight, fight. While you're there, go to school. Right? Do what you got to do? You know, maybe you should go into brick and law school and fix the system. Because what is this? I don't want to do math and stuff like that, though. I don't think that that's involved with.

I would, but like I don't know if I want to like take the time to do it because it's like a lot of work. Yeah. But you have time. right and you are an amazing arguer you know what I mean because you're based on facts and you tell people what it is and you don't stop people need that

pick out how you defend people that have been wrong Kenzie they need you I just like I'm still just trying to figure out like why the judge would just do that like I'm just like so confused like I just don't understand I know we're not supposed to talk I like that on the phone I don't either

and I need to tell you something else. I can't tell you right now. Hmm. How we should do that? Did Jim tell you what happened before court? Before I went into court? No. Okay. But yeah, we're going to talk about that because I don't know what that was. McKenzie appears to be hinting to her mom that something improper happened in another courtroom. Then she makes it clear that she doesn't want to go to her own sentencing.

Look, I don't, like, say I don't want to go to court, like type. Or should I just go to court, like, When you don't have a choice? Like, what's the point of even having a court date? Like, I understand. Like, they already, like, they're just going. Like, what's the point of even going? That's what I mean?

Like, this whole process is so ridiculous. There's no point of even having court anymore. Just give me a time and just tell me, so we can appeal this. Because it has to be this big to-do, which is, like, so wrong. Going on both sides. I'm weird to know. I know. Listen, we just got to get through.

Breathe through these days. In the same call, McKenzie questions one of her friend's loyalty to her. She's, she loves, she loves you to death. And don't forget, she was, you know, on your witness. I'm aware. That doesn't mean anything. No, she loves you. I think she feels, she feels like she's got weird vibes.

I said that's her before. She was like, no, no, please tell her. I love her so much and, like, the summer is unbearable without her. I think about her every day. Yeah. But that's all she says every single time. Like, it's, like, it's, that is weird to me. Like, I'm weirded out.

Like, I just feel like, like, why did you delete everything off Instagram about me? Like, I don't, like, why did you, why are you hanging out with people that are weird as, like. Answer. Just be like I heard you were hanging out with people that are glad I'm in here. Is that true? Yeah, I'm okay. I don't even want to call her, though. It wastes my time with her, like.

Don't accuse. Don't accuse. I'm accused of her. I don't go for her. I'm already told, like, my people wouldn't lie. First of all, that's not true, though. Talk to Faith first to see what the conversation was, and then ask her. Well, I just want to say that at 10.30, so that's when I'll know.

But I'm just weirded out by her. Right, but nobody likes being accused of things that they didn't do, right? Like, if you can't post my face and be, like, free her. She did. She posted your birthday, remember? I know. I'm saying if you can't, like, post, be, like, free, Tennessee. She's saying this.

like this is like this is crazy like that like what are you like that's weird there she did all that she did not post free me and if my friend was in jail i'd post them every day right like free them okay but she did post on your birthday remember okay i didn't see anybody else do that except for that rosy nina whatever that was okay so just pause and ask her are you hanging out with Sammy, I heard she's glad I'm in here. Are you still hanging out with her? Don't accuse. Ask. And she posted on your birthday. Okay. I know you're hurting and I know you're freaking out. Ask for first. Do you like being

accused of something you didn't do? No, it's a terrible feeling. Yes, you do. Don't do that. Learn from what's happening to you and then three people like that, too, it sucks being accused of something you didn't do. ask first and then you have to believe them this next conversation between mackenzie and her mom natalie happens right before her sentencing and she and her mom discuss how mackenzie is going to prison i talked to face last night she just wanted to make sure you're okay um and how you know i told her you got moved and she the first thing she said let's but she have a window i said no but it's okay it's okay i do but you can't see outside it's like really small too it's like different Because I'm on maximum security.

Like, this is like that, like, serious. I'm maximum security right now. Well, yeah, but those kind of charges, I guess. But that's crazy. Oh, then you're trying to eat the bumblebee. Memsey is? Yeah. That's my worry about Maryville.

What? The whole maximum security thing. It's just insane, Kansi. It's insane. Oh. Like, what? Miss Lisa said, just a quick note to let you know. I texted your mom this morning.

Whenever she's ready and needs a safe place to talk, I told her I would love to take her for coffee. How are you holding up? I was thinking you should probably face yourself for some rough days ahead. You probably don't realize how stress with a trial of birth and assisting are to your body instill. Stress will show up in weird ways like physical pain, digestive pain, fatigue, depression. Just know it might be coming and recognize it for what it is. It will pass. Sending you tons of prayers.

Yeah. Saying I can't wait for you to go with my mom. Yes. Oh, who is asking me? Oh, Raleigh 4-9. So in this next clip, McKenzie and her mom then discuss how deaths that happen as the result of car crashes shouldn't be considered murder. I just feel like people that are, people that are convicted of murder, like with guns and knives and a fallacious way, should be in a different category than the vehicular, like, car accident, people. Like, that guy that hit that fireman on the road who got charged and convicted with murder.

He doesn't fall in the same category of actual murderers. But what was his reason of, like, there's no, like, the thing about this, like, how are these people getting charged with murder when there's just no intent? Like, what is the reason? There has to be a purpose. There has to be a purpose for a crime murder. Yeah, what's that guy driving? He did not purposely hit that fireman. That is wrong. Like, yeah, that's wrong. That's, like, vehicular homicide or, or, not aggravated, aggravated, is there's other things involved, like drugs and stuff. That was the higling homicide, that guy should have got charged. with. Yeah. Or reckless homicide, if he was speeding. I don't know. Right. That's weird. Something is wrong with our system because that's not murder. Murder is purpose. You purposely did it. Yes. He did not do that. That's so said. That's what I mean. That should be in a different category than actual violent, evil murderer that are actually guilty of murder. crazy

uh-huh yeah and mackenzie asks her mom to send photos to her that she can take with her to prison you can have ten you want five five of you and five

five of them five of dumb for me to me like the best ones of me and dumb of course they don't care it's different here you can have just like any pictures here obviously just like no like drugs or nothing crazy

like guns and it but like there's no pictures like that, but like, you can, like, show skin and that, like, it's not, like, you don't need to, like. Yeah, because you're not a minor. Right. So you can send, like, good. You know, your shoulders. People can't handle their shoulders, Kenzie. I know. It's just a terrible thing. Yeah. In this next portion, McKenzie actually mentions that she blacked out for just a moment, which is interesting because McKenzie claimed that at trial. It's so weird because people have come so far, but we're so stuck in the past, like, why can't women show our shoulders? I'm going to go to my shoulders. It's so stupid.

I'm going to call you back, though, one more time. It's like it's not a female problem. It's a male problem. Get your boys in check. Will you tell Rosie I'm going to call her? I just blacked out bad as the guy's like twitching and, like, moving weird. I am sitting down. I was sitting down when I blacked out.

That scares me. It's okay. Because I feel it doesn't exist. Pots is just not. real. So we don't need to worry about it. Because if we say it's not real, it's not real. Right. Remember, McKenzie and her mom are well aware that they're being recorded. At one point, they mentioned the possibility that a big-name celebrity could help McKenzie.

This is great, because we were going to go to the media anyway. So great. Bring it. Oh, my God. I'm talking Lisa now. So we, it's all over the world now that today shows like national news. Okay, I got to tell you one more thing What? It was published in England. Okay. What?

Yeah. It's world news? I think the Daily Mail just publishes it in all the publications, but yeah, the U.K. It's on the Daily Mail. In the UK. Maybe Kim Kardashian will reach out herself. That's what I'm saying. I'm hoping.

I'm hoping. We're getting there. I was going to do this anyway, so this is great. And they could just reach out to us. Mm-hmm. Yep. Craziness, baby girl. I don't know.

Who are you hyping? Miss Lisa. I'm just so sad. I miss you guys so much. I need you guys so bad. I'm glad we can talk. I've been praying, but it makes me sad. I don't know how he would let this happen to me, but I'm not going to lose my strength for hope.

I'm going to say, love you. Yes, yes. You've got to keep the face. Okay. Oh my God. Steve Campo is already messaging back, which just throws me the off. Like, these messages me way too fast, and I don't like that. So a couple of things about this. Kim Kardashian has taken on a number of cases for inmates that she feels were wrongfully convicted. To date, she has shown zero interest in McKenzie Shirillaz case, and the Shirillaz went to the media. McKenzie granted her first interview about

the case in the crash. She expressed remorse, but then in a moment. She probably didn't expect to be recorded. Mackenzie, ever conscious of her image, asked her lawyer how she was coming off. You can listen to all of these jail calls and read McKenzie Sherilla's prison disciplinary records on our new app. It's called Law and Crime Plus. Check it out. And that's it for this episode of Crime Fix. I'm Ann Jeanette Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. I'll see you back here next time.