The father of convicted murderer Mackenzie Shirilla will not return to his teaching position at a Cleveland-area Catholic school following a review prompted by his appearance in a Netflix documentary about the deadly crash that sent his daughter to prison.
The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland confirmed Wednesday that Steve Shirilla will not be returning to Mary Queen of Peace School.
“Catholic school personnel decisions are the purview of each school in the Diocese of Cleveland. Due to privacy considerations, neither the schools nor the Diocese ordinarily discuss personnel issues publicly,” the diocese said in a statement. “However, we can confirm that Mr. Steve Shirilla will not be returning to Mary Queen of Peace School.”
The announcement comes about a month after Shirilla was placed on administrative leave following the release of a Netflix documentary that revisited one of Ohio’s most closely watched criminal cases.
In the documentary, Shirilla said he didn’t mind his daughter using marijuana. He doubled down on the sentiment in an interview this week, defending how he handled the situation as a parent.
“As you know, as a parent, I pick my battles,” he said. “Sorry if I find marijuana not that dangerous as I find alcohol or cocaine or whatever.”
He went on to say that he believed his daughter was mature enough to handle the drug. He also said he warned her not to drive while using marijuana.
Shirilla later criticized how the diocese handled complaints that emerged after the documentary’s release.
“The problem I have with how the diocese handled it is they didn’t talk to me,” Shirilla said in a recent interview.
According to Shirilla, church officials responded to complaints circulating online without first discussing the matter with him.
The Diocese of Cleveland previously said school administrators were reviewing allegations of “poor judgment” that spread on social media after the documentary debuted.
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Deadly Crash Became National Story
The controversy stems from renewed attention on the case of his daughter, Mackenzie Shirilla, who is serving two life sentences for a 2022 crash that killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, and their friend, Davion Flanagan, 19.
Prosecutors said Shirilla intentionally drove her Toyota Camry into a commercial building in Strongsville on July 31, 2022.
Investigators determined the vehicle was traveling more than 100 mph before impact. Russo and Flanagan were killed in the crash. Shirilla survived.
The case drew national attention and became known as the “Hell on Wheels” trial after prosecutors argued the crash was a deliberate act rather than an accident.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Shirilla accelerated toward the building and never attempted to brake before the collision.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy Russo found Shirilla guilty of multiple offenses, including murder, in 2023.
The judge described the crash as intentional and compared the vehicle’s path to a missile striking a target.
Shirilla was sentenced to two consecutive life terms and must serve at least 15 years before becoming eligible for parole. Her first parole eligibility date is 2037.
Prison Calls Draw Fresh Attention
The case returned to the spotlight again this week after TMZ reported obtaining a prison phone call between Mackenzie Shirilla and her mother, Natalie Shirilla.
According to the outlet, the now-21-year-old complained about boredom in prison and said she had limited access to commissary items and only one book to read.
At one point, Shirilla reportedly expressed frustration with how slowly time was passing.
When her mother suggested prison work assignments such as mopping or sweeping, Shirilla responded that inmates convicted of crimes like hers are not permitted to hold those jobs, according to TMZ’s account of the call.
Despite her conviction, Shirilla continues to maintain her innocence.
Her attorneys have challenged the verdict through the appeals process, arguing prosecutors failed to prove she intentionally caused the crash. Courts have thus far upheld the conviction.
