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Mackenzie Shirilla Asks Ohio High Court to Reconsider One‑Day Late Dismissal

Her lawyers say a calendaring error and ineffective assistance of counsel kept her post‑conviction petition from being heard and want the court to review the merits of the case.

Overview

  • Prosecutors say Shirilla intentionally drove into a Strongsville building at about 100 mph in July 2022, killing Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan, and a judge convicted her in 2023 on multiple felonies with parole eligibility in 2037.
  • The Ohio Supreme Court declined on June 23 to hear a post‑conviction petition after finding the filing arrived one day past the 365‑day deadline that starts from the trial transcript filing.
  • In early July Shirilla’s legal team filed a motion asking the state high court to reconsider that dismissal, arguing deadline rules were confusing, district practices varied, and a leap‑year calendaring mistake caused the late filing.
  • Her lawyers also allege ineffective assistance of appellate counsel for missing the deadline and continue to press a medical‑blackout defense citing POTS that they say was not fully investigated at trial.
  • Supporters posted a prison selfie and an online petition to press for a retrial while journalists published Shirilla’s disciplinary and jail records and victims’ relatives pushed for limits on offender publicity and other policy responses.