Justice for Kensie
Fighting for a fair trial. Challenging the evidence. Seeking the truth.
227,490
Vehicles Recalled
26.3%
Recall Completion
$1.2B
Toyota Fraud Settlement
80,000+
Software Bugs Found
What Happened
The Case at a Glance
On July 31, 2022, Mackenzie Shirilla — just 17 years old — was driving her 2018 Toyota Camry with two passengers, Dominic Russo (20) and Davion Flanagan (19), in Strongsville, Ohio. The vehicle accelerated to approximately 100 mph and crashed into a building. Both passengers were killed.
The vehicle's Event Data Recorder (EDR) showed 100% accelerator pedal position and no brake application. Prosecutors argued this proved intent. Mackenzie was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 15 years.
But the very same 2018 Toyota Camry was subject to an active NHTSA recall for brake vacuum pump failure — a defect that can make it physically impossible to stop the vehicle. The defense team never raised this argument at trial.
Was it intent — or was it a vehicle defect?
This is the question that was never properly examined at trial.
The Evidence They Missed
Four critical areas of evidence that were never presented to the court during Mackenzie's trial.
Vehicle Defect History
NHTSA Recall 21V-890 identified brake vacuum pump failures in 227,490 Toyota Camrys. Without the vacuum pump, braking requires 100–150+ lbs of pedal force — far beyond what most drivers can generate in an emergency.
Legal Precedent
In Bookout v. Toyota (2013), a jury found that Toyota's software could silently disable the throttle. Toyota paid a $1.2 billion DOJ criminal fraud settlement in 2014 for systematically concealing safety defects.
Statistical Analysis
NHTSA crash data shows the Toyota Camry is a proven statistical outlier for stuck-throttle, no-braking crash profiles. This isn't a one-off event — it's a documented pattern across thousands of vehicles.
EDR Science
The Event Data Recorder uses a simple binary brake switch — on or off. It cannot distinguish between "didn't brake" and "couldn't brake." A vacuum pump failure makes both look identical.
The Defense That Was Never Made
Mackenzie Shirilla's defense team never argued vehicle defect at trial. Instead, they focused on POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) — a medical condition that causes dizziness and fainting.
While POTS is a legitimate medical condition, the defense entirely overlooked the documented mechanical failures of the 2018 Toyota Camry — a vehicle with an active federal recall for a defect that could make braking physically impossible.
A 17-year-old female physically cannot generate the ~90 lbs of force needed to close the brake pedal switch on a failed vacuum booster — a system that normally requires only 20–30 lbs with the booster working. The defense never presented this biomechanical evidence.
This raises a potential claim of ineffective assistance of counsel — a constitutional right under the Sixth Amendment. Every defendant deserves competent legal representation that explores all viable defenses.
How You Can Help
Every voice matters. Here are ways you can support the pursuit of justice and a fair re-examination of the evidence.
Share the Story
Spread awareness on social media. Every share helps reach people who can make a difference — journalists, lawyers, and advocates.
Write a Letter
Write to Mackenzie to show your support, or contact elected officials to raise awareness about vehicle safety accountability.
Attend Hearings
Show up to court hearings and public events. Visible community support demonstrates that people care about this case.
Contact Us
Have expertise in vehicle forensics, EDR analysis, or recall data? Reach out — we welcome researchers and advocates.