Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Mackenzie Shirilla is serving 15 years to life at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, convicted on 12 counts, including murder and aggravated vehicular homicide. Police say Shirilla deliberately crashing her car into a brick building at 100 mph. Two passengers were killed, Shirilla's boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and their friend, Davion Flanagan. Data from the car's black box showed Shirilla floored the gas pedal and never used the brakes, making calculated steering and gear adjustments before impact. She was 17 at the time.
The Ohio Supreme Court has declined to review Mackenzie Shirilla’s post-conviction appeals, ruling the petition was filed late and the trial court lacked jurisdiction to excuse the delay. Shirilla’s lawyers, in court documents, said they requested the review due to a calendar mistake. They filed the appeal one day past the deadline.
Jailhouse recordings and prison records reveal demands the double killer is making behind bars Recordings from her time at the Ohio Reformatory for Women exposed her begging for perks like an iPad, complaining about being bored, and scheming with her mother. A prison document details 23 complaints and 36 violations against her, including flashing her breasts to visitors, possessing contraband like paints and monopoly money, and refusing job assignments.
Shirilla will not be eligible for her first parole hearing until October 2037.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Christine Russo - Dominic Russo's older sister - Host, "The Big Sister: Unhinged Podcast," Instagram: @thebigsisterunhinged, www.youtube.com/@TheBigSisterUnhinged
Shyann Topping - Mackenzie Shirilla's prison girlfriend in 2023 TikTok: shyanntoppingg
Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, Host "On the Couch with Dr. Bethany," Author: "Deal Breaker,” featured in hit show: "Paris in Love" on Peacock, www.drbethanymarshall.com , Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, Twitter: @DrBethanyLive
John Mobley - Trial attorney, John Mobley Law Firm
Dr. Kendall Crowns - TX Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Podcast "Mayhem in the Morgue," Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)
Joel Waldman - Co-host of "Surviving the Survivor," Author of "Surviving the Survivor: A Brutally Honest Conversation about Life (& Death) with My Mom: A Holocaust Survivor, Therapist & My Podcast Co-Host", Co-Founder and Creative Director at Content Product Media
Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories'
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Murdaugh's second murder trial in the deaths of his wife and son is now scheduled for April of 2027. His 2023 convictions were overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court which ruled former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca “Becky” Hill improperly influenced the jury. Murdaugh remains incarcerated for 22 state financial crimes and 14 federal charges serving both sentences concurrently, unaffected by the murder retrial.
A status hearing is set for August for Judge Debra McCaslin to decide pending motions on a change of venue and allowing independent DNA testing of samples from under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails, among others.
Joining Nancy today:
Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson - Murdaugh's former housekeeper, Author: Within the House of Murdaugh: Amid a Unique Friendship, Blanca and Maggie, website: https://withinhouseofmurdaugh.com
Mark Peper - Criminal defense attorney, PeperLawFirm.com, Twitter: @PeperLawFirm
Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, https://www.drbethanymarshall.com/, Instagram FB & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, Twitter:@DrBethanyLive, Author: "Deal Breaker," featured in hit show: "Paris in Love" on Peacock, Host: "On The Couch with Dr. Bethany Marshall"
Brian Fitzgibbons - Director of Operations for USPA Nationwide Security, website: www.uspasecurity.com, Instagram: @uspa_nationwide_security,
Thomas Coyne - Medical Examiner, University of Florida. District Eight Medical Examiner, State of Florida. Toxicologist. Forensic Pathologist and Neuropathologist.
GiGi McKelvey - Journalist, Host of the podcast “Pretty Lies And Alibis”, prettyliesandalibis.org, Facebook, IG, TikTok: @PrettyLies And Alibis, Twitter: @PrettyLiesAlibi
Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories'

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Postal worker kidnapped and killed by man who previously threatened her months after husband's fatal car crash, leaving her children orphaned. California dog rescue accused of fraud after more than 100 dogs found in mass grave, many of them shot. New York mother downs a bottle of Vodka while her 18-month-old son chokes to death on popcorn kernels. Sydney Silvagni reports.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caroline “Caro” Peña, 32, dies after being stabbed multiple times. According to police, the mom of five, was attacked in broad daylight by a female trio made up by two sisters and a friend. Kitty Mia Diaz (21) and Amaya "Cookie" Diaz (19), along with their friend Kyandra Renee Faz (21) have been charged with first degree murder. Surveillance footage, physical evidence, and witness interviews led to police identification of the attackers. Officers say as Pena and he suspects knew each other, the attack was not random.
A video shows Cookie leave the passenger seat of the black Chrysler 300 to confront Peña. It appears she had an object in her hand, belief to be the knife with which Pena was stabbed. Blood on the victim's shirt is also visible.

Joining Nancy Grace today:
Christina Salinas - Caroline Pena best friend

Eric Faddis - Founder of The Law Offices of Eric Faddis, known as “The Mile High Lion,” former felony prosecutor and current criminal defense and civil litigation attorney; website: EricFaddisLaw.com

Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, https://www.drbethanymarshall.com/, Instagram FB & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, Twitter:@DrBethanyLiveAuthor: "Deal Breaker," Also featured in hit show: "Paris in Love" on Peacock and "The Valley, Persian Style" on Bravo. Host: "On The Couch with Dr. Bethany Marshall"

Chris Mcdonough - Director At the Cold Case Foundation, Former Homicide Detective, https://www.coldcasefoundation.org/chris-mcdonough---law-enforcement-relations.html
Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host: "Mayhem in the Morgue", Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)

Michael Elizondo - Independent Journalist

Sydney Silvagni - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories'
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tentative Murdaugh trial date contingent on time to complete advanced DNA testing. Parents indicted in death of their 255 pound non-verbal 7-year-old. 'Scorned' husband gets 40 years for setting his wife's married "affair partner" on fire. Sydney Silvagni reports.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.