Mackenzie Shirilla's father has defended his remarks about her marijuana use and accused the lead prosecutor in her murder case of being "lazy," saying he could not control his daughter's choices as a teenager.
In a recent interview with TMZ, Steve Shirilla said comments he made in the Netflix documentary "The Crash" about not having a problem with his daughter "smoking dope" were meant to reflect his inability to dictate her behavior, not an endorsement of drug use.
He emphasized that he never allowed Mackenzie to use marijuana at home and that, as she grew older, he could only warn her about consequences rather than physically stop her. He added that he did not know she was smoking in the car until trial evidence showed videos of her driving while using what appeared to be marijuana, according to People.
Steve also sharply criticized Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim Troup, who helped secure Mackenzie's 2023 conviction on 12 counts, including four counts of murder and two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
"This prosecutor is, in my opinion, lazy," he told TMZ, alleging there were omissions and changes in the evidence and insisting there is no proof she intentionally caused the 2022 Strongsville crash that killed her boyfriend, 20‑year‑old Dominic Russo, and their friend, 19‑year‑old Davion Flanagan.
He has repeatedly challenged authorities to show "one piece of evidence" that she acted on purpose, echoing earlier comments made in local television interviews.
Prosecutors and the court have rejected those claims, saying vehicle data and video evidence show Mackenzie accelerated to around 100 mph and never hit the brakes before the car slammed into a building.
Investigators said there was no mechanical failure, and Judge Nancy Margaret Russo concluded in the 2023 bench trial that the crash was an intentional act, not an accident. Toxicology reports showed THC in Mackenzie's system, but prosecutors and investigators said marijuana was not deemed the cause of the crash.
Mackenzie, now in her early 20s, is serving a life sentence in an Ohio women's prison, with the possibility of parole after 15 years, as per NBC News.
