Ohio Supreme Court filings ask to overturn Mackenzie Shirilla’s murder conviction, arguing her trial lawyers failed to properly investigate whether POTS caused her to lose consciousness before the 2022 crash.
The appeal says the condition was only cursorily raised at trial, even though Shirilla and her family had alerted counsel, and argues expert testimony could have explained why no braking occurred before impact.
Prosecutors had relied on vehicle data showing speeds above 100 mph, a fully engaged accelerator and no service brake, and said Shirilla intentionally drove into a Strongsville building to kill her boyfriend, also killing his friend.
Shirilla, now 21, is serving two concurrent 15-years-to-life sentences, while renewed attention from Netflix’s "The Crash" has pushed the case back into public view.