According to reports from 19 News and WKYC, Steve Shirilla was removed from his position as an art and digital media teacher at Mary Queen of Peace School in Cleveland following remarks he made in the documentary about his daughter.
The Pre-K through eighth-grade school reportedly informed parents via email that a staff member had been put on leave over concerns involving “poor judgment.” The message emphasized that student safety, wellbeing, and trust remain top priorities and stated that the school takes all concerns seriously and responds appropriately when issues arise.
PEOPLE contacted the school for comment, though no immediate response was provided.
The case centers on a July 31, 2022 crash in Strongsville, Ohio, when 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla drove into a brick wall at nearly 100 mph. The collision killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, and their friend, Davion Flanagan, 19.
Although the incident was first considered an accident, investigators later alleged that Mackenzie intentionally accelerated before impact. She was arrested in November 2022 and faced multiple charges, including murder and aggravated vehicular assault.
In August 2023, Mackenzie received a life sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years, with two concurrent life terms imposed. Appeals filed by her legal team in September 2023 and April 2025 were both unsuccessful.
In The Crash, released May 15, Steve Shirilla spoke openly about his daughter’s marijuana use and maintained that she was innocent.
“I don’t have a problem with her smoking dope,” he said in the documentary. “If you’re going to smoke a drug, that’s the one I believe you should take.”
Steve and his wife, Natalie Shirilla, also disputed accusations that Mackenzie had bullied classmates, despite the documentary referencing school disciplinary records related to bullying claims.
Viewers additionally criticized Steve’s wardrobe choice during filming after he appeared wearing a shirt displaying the word “BOOM,” which some considered inappropriate given the nature of the crash.
Steve later confirmed to 19 News that he had been placed on leave while the school investigates the situation. He expressed frustration with how the documentary was edited but continued to insist on his daughter’s innocence.
One parent defended both Steve and the school, saying students respected him as a teacher and arguing it was unfair for the school community to face backlash over actions unrelated to his conduct as an educator.
The parent added that no background check could have predicted events involving his daughter years after his hiring and said threats directed at the elementary school and its families were unjustified.
