Ohio murder conviction appeal cites POTS blackout claim

An Ohio woman convicted of murder for a high-speed crash that killed two young men in 2022 has filed an appeal with the state’s Supreme Court, arguing a medical condition caused her to black out at the wheel. The appeal follows the recent public release of text messages that reveal a volatile relationship between the driver and her boyfriend in the weeks before the fatal incident.

Mackenzie Shirilla, now 21, was convicted in 2023 on multiple counts including murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, and felonious assault for the crash on July 31, 2022, in Strongsville, Ohio. She was sentenced to two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life and is currently housed at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. She will be eligible for parole in October 2037.

In her appeal, Shirilla’s lawyers claim new medical evidence shows she suffered from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a condition they argue could have caused her to lose consciousness while driving. They further contend her trial attorney did not properly investigate this claim. The appeal, refiled in April after a previous denial on a procedural deadline, asks the Ohio Supreme Court to review the conviction. The Cuyahoga...