Sit-Down with Christine Russo: Remembering My Brother

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]this life will never like there's a before Dom and after and like he is a missing when I say like a missing piece man like we're not not right we are not right and it will never be the same and it sucks it sucks so bad like bad >> all right SA squad we have a major major important guest on the show today as you see this is Christine Russo Christine Russo is Dom Russo's older sister Dom Russo was a victim of McKenzie Shrillas many of you have come to know these people, their lives, their story through the recent Netflix documentary, The Crash. I was honored for Christine to come on the show and not only share her personal story about what Dom was like as a person, her relationship, the family, etc., etc., but also her insights into living through a situation like this and also the good things that she is doing to honor his name and help other people who might unfortunately find themselves in some kind of a situation like this in the future. So, let's talk very quickly about who she is, what she does, her YouTube channel, her GoFundMe, and the petition that she's really putting out there, which I think is amazing. So, today's conversation is a really important one, and I want to approach it with the care and respect that it deserves. Now, like I said, as many as you know, I've been covering the case involving Mackenzie Sherlock for quite some time, but especially recently with the release of the crash on Netflix. Now, McKenzie was convicted in the deaths of Dominic Russo and Davian Flanigan after the 2022 crash that took both of those young men's lives. So, Christine Russo, Dominic's older sister, is joining us. She's going to talk about family grief, remembrance, Dom, and we're also going to be able to hear directly from someone who loved Dom, knew him beyond like the public narrative, and continues to live with the aftermath of the unimaginable loss every single day. Now, Christine has been advocating in Dominic's memory, working to keep his story alive and to support causes that matter to her family. And I want to make sure that I share ways you can support that work if you feel moved to do so. Now, I'm going to include information below about Christine's GoFundMe, the petition that she's having people sign, her YouTube channel, all those things are really major important, and I'll let her explain some of those in person. So, let's go ahead and get into the interview and hear what she has to say for this very uplose and very personal story.

[00:02:21]>> Welcome to the Sofa Squad.

[00:02:25]>> Hello, Christine. I appreciate you taking time out of your schedule, out of your life, out of everything to come over here to the sofa squad and talk to us about, you know, your podcast, your brother, the case, the crash, all of the things. So, I want to start off by just asking how are you doing? Um, I'm doing I'm staying busy. I just I tend to keep myself busy, so I'm getting by.

[00:02:47]>> Understandable. Understandable. Do you mind just telling us a little bit about, you know, the name of your podcast?

[00:02:52]Obviously, Big Sister Unhinged, you know, the the things that you're working on, the the GoFundMe for Dom, all that kind of stuff.

[00:02:59]>> Right now, I'm Christine Russo, um, Dominic's oldest sister. We were one of seven. I started a podcast called The Big Sister Unhinged. I did it for uh so many reasons. I can't always like I'm always like this is why I started my podcast. The biggest thing was to battle the misinformation because I knew how big the Netflix movie was going to be.

[00:03:19]And we've been dealing with trolls and misinformation for the last four years since the day he passed. So, I knew I I wanted my goal was to establish a platform big enough to give my family a voice and be heard and not feel so helpless behind, you know, these people that say terrible things about my brother or the family. That was one of my missions and I think I've done a pretty good job with giving my family a voice and defending Dominic and his legacy. And another goal of mine is to bring awareness to domestic violence in teens. I'd eventually like to go to high schools and talk to teens and talk about red flags and what toxic relationships are and what can happen. And I just recently came out with a petition. It's going to be called Dom's Law. And it is going to be like modernizing the Son of Sam's law that was written in the 1970s that prevented criminals from like capitalizing on their crimes but was more geared towards cuz back in the 70s it was more like books, movie deals, reporters, journalists, things like that. It left out now we have social media podcasts and that was Kenz's goal in life. That's all she cared about was herself and becoming Instagram famous modeling. That was her dream. So, I have a petition out. It went out last night at like midnight. I put it out and right now it has I think almost 12,000 signatures already in just a few hours.

[00:04:46]Yep. And so that is going to be it's going to try to get written to a bill.

[00:04:51]It's called Dom's Law, Victims Before Influencers. And it's going to make it so that criminals that were charged with heinous crimes or repeat offenders or violent offenders basically that they can't capitalize and monetize off social media if it's interviews or donations, you know, GoFundMe like becoming monetized off of this in any way. So that's that just started and we're going to try to pass that and make that into a law so that when she gets out of jail, she can't do anything. That's my goal in life right now.

[00:05:25]>> That is amazing.

[00:05:28]I love that is so necessary too because like you said now we have the internet and it's like so many of the laws that we see these days were you know not just with this but just anything really were designed before internet and social media and it's this whole new thing and I keep saying like things are going to have to change to be more geared and up to-date to like what we have now with social media for this exact reason because you see that happen where people will do like the wildest stuff and it's almost like it's how do you say it well monetized but rewarded you know and it makes you wonder like, okay, you know, is this where we're at? Right. I think that's amazing that you've put energy into that and along with all the other stuff you're doing.

[00:06:07]>> Thanks. I haven't slept in a week or two. Like I'm just going. But yeah, I just like I couldn't imagine how we'd feel like the thought of her getting out in She won't get out, I don't think, for a long long time. But the thought of her getting out is sickening. But the thought of her getting out and then becoming famous and making money off of it, I can't put it into words for like any of us. It's not >> I just if I could stop that then that would be amazing for our family and the world really for anybody else going through it. I actually have had emails already of people that have been through the same thing and, you know, they lost a son to murder and the murderer was able to, you know, make a whole thing out of it and a TikTok and yeah, it's it's it sucks. So, >> wow, that's going to help so many people. I just that that gives me goosebumps. I love that. That's so amazing. Do you mind telling me telling us the audience whatever about Dom like as a person your relationship with him?

[00:07:04]what like and if you have any like memories or anything like that.

[00:07:08]>> This one always chokes me up because I've been asked this question like you know in all these interviews that I'm doing. So I was his older sister. I was 13 years older than him. So we had like when he was born it's me and my sister and then we have I have five brothers and when he was born he was like the baby. Like all the girls I had cousins and stuff like he was our baby. You know what I'm saying? He was the cutest thing. He had the cutest little voice.

[00:07:32]He was sweet. He was funny. My favorite outfit he ever wore was he wore it was like a muscle like when you would go swimming. It's like a life jacket. You know what I'm saying? It makes you look like you had a Spider-Man muscles and he was so tiny and like tiny little baby arms and he would have this big life jacket on. It made him look muscular.

[00:07:50]That was my favorite. So when he started to grow up, you know, he became like our our best friend, our best pal. And then we like had our own kids and stuff. And he was the most loving, fantastic uncle ever. He was there for everything. He's the godfather to our children. Was just there for everything. You know, we have a very close family, a super super close family. And every holiday, every birthday, you know what I'm saying? Like even in his teenage years, like up until he met McKenzie, who kind of like isolated him, he was with us for everything, you know? even when he got a little older and had friends, you know, he was very loyal instead of like running with the friends, you know what I'm saying? Like or he made sure that he made time still for his nieces and nephews. He was just he was great all around. Funny, athletic, played basketball, kind, caring, sweet, a great kid.

[00:08:37]>> That's awesome. And you saying all that, two things popped out to me, I think from the documentary or wherever I heard them. But number one, when I think your dad said that Dom had texted him, I love you at some hour like or whatever. And I feel like I don't know if you said an interview or somewhere of like that was just a thing that y'all did or I can't remember if I'm being accurate with that or not. So yeah, I just I love that because I was like that's so cute for a son to be that aware, you know, even when they're like out doing some whatever to be like say, you know, I love you, Dad. Like that really >> Yes. Lots of love. Our family's very loving and he was very caring. you just, you know, hit the nail on the head. Like that's exactly what happened. And that is something very common that we do. My dad texts us often. He's got seven kids and so he shoots out I love you randomly all the time and we do it back and that just Yeah. He he cared, you know, lots of love.

[00:09:29]>> I love that. I love that.

[00:09:31]>> And then also another one was in one of the phone calls I think from the documentary again, it's like him and McKenzie are arguing and he's basically like I'm going I don't know if it was your grandmother. He's trying to go somewhere and he's like, "I have to go."

[00:09:42]It was a family event. Like, I don't not sure who. Again, that just kind of stuck out to me where I was like, you could tell it was like, "I'm going to do this family thing. I don't need your drama right now." And that really showed to me at least like the maybe behind the scenes. I don't know if she presented that side of herself to any of y'all or the public or if it was like a just dom salt, you know what I mean? Like this kind of like uh abusive side to her, whatnot of the like you said, isolation and the I'm jeopardizing your family time. I'm jeopardizing your personal time. I'm like all the things, right?

[00:10:11]Was that something that you were privy to or was that like a you learn this after the fact of like oh wow I didn't know that she was like that?

[00:10:20]>> I was a lot older than him so like him sharing like his relationship stuff I didn't he didn't share it with me but I did see like the isolation very much and like she wouldn't leave his hip. You know what I'm saying? There's things from like his best friends because you know I'm older so I didn't hang out at their parties or you know what I'm saying like with them and like as a friend thing but he did confide and he told his best friends things and you know our other brothers you know things that had happened. So there were very much like signs, you know, one of them, a big one was like that she just he couldn't you couldn't get him alone or like you'd ask him to do something and then it would be like, "Oh, Kenzie's just not ready in time." Or, you know what I'm saying? Like it was like that or like I remember my dad's maybe it was my dad's like 55th birthday or something. I had a big party at my house and like he didn't come and it was like that's that just doesn't happen in our family. You know what I'm saying? like it was like, "Oh, cuz Kenzie wasn't ready, you know, or you know, very much of that."

[00:11:21]>> Wow. You know, and it almost seems too like in scenarios like that where it's almost like, and I don't know, like I'm just speaking kind of from my experience or things that I've seen of like you're almost embarrassed to let some people know this is what's going on with me.

[00:11:33]Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's almost a shame.

[00:11:35]>> Pride. Yes. Like your pride, it's hurtful. And I I don't even like saying it. It's almost embarrassing. Exactly.

[00:11:41]Very much like that. I don't want people to know that I've gotten in this situation with somebody and that they're doing blank to me or whatever. You know what I mean? Cuz like you said, like obviously I don't know your family personally, but you saying, "Oh, he missed dad's 55th birthday." Like just the little bit I've learned. I'm like, "Yeah, that seems completely out of character there." And it's so unfortunate. When he first started, and again, I know that you're you got the age gap there with him, but when he was like she first started coming around, was there any level on your part of being like, "This girl's giving me red flag energy or like does she seem normal at first? I hate using normal, but like not what we've learned her to be.

[00:12:14]>> No, the first time I met her was in his backyard and she showed up in this like and I had heard like, "Oh, Dom's talking to, you know, this girl or something."

[00:12:23]It's like, "Okay, who is this?" You know, all right, let's see her, you know, as his big sister. And she came over in this little tiny little tank top. It's just no respect at all. And she didn't say hi. She didn't introduce herself. Like, didn't care that I was there. You know what I'm saying? It was just like, "Who do you think you are?"

[00:12:40]you know, very Yeah, that was the first time I met her. But definitely like no respect. Kind of trashy in my opinion, you know, just like that.

[00:12:49]>> Yeah.

[00:12:50]>> Mhm.

[00:12:50]>> Yeah, that's pretty bad. Wearing something like that and then not talking or whatever with the especially like the big sister, you know what I'm saying?

[00:12:57]It's just like yikes.

[00:12:59]>> Just didn't care.

[00:13:00]>> Yeah. She also strikes me and again I don't know her either or anything but just when I've seen. Have you ever noticed a difference in whether it's kids or whatever but especially younger people where you know how some younger people know how to be around adults and people that are older than them and other ones it's like they have zero clue of that. It was almost like they were so isolated. She strikes me as a type like that that didn't have any kind of like manners. You know what I mean? Of like oh you talk when you're taught to you introduce yourself. You wear some inappropriate. You know, like almost like that the parents created a bubble of eternal youth in a way of like this is my world. I don't have to deal with anything and it kind of ends up in this situation like we've seen of just like, you know, where are we at? How do we get here?

[00:13:41]>> Yeah. And she could just realize like she just could do whatever she wanted and and wasn't like wasn't held, you know, or taught respect or, you know, she was completely got to do whatever she wanted. She had her family by like full control of everything, you know, got to do whatever she pleased. And I'm sure she tortured her family maybe or maybe they liked it. I don't know. I wasn't in their house. But like I just know that the enabling is, you know, and as parents, you need to teach your children certain things or like not let them do certain things. You know what I mean? Like be parents. You know, maybe she was raised to be a monster. I don't know.

[00:14:16]>> Yeah. Mhm.

[00:14:18]>> You know, one thing like that too is that I've seen is it's almost like the world's going to teach everybody something along the way. Better to come from your parents in your house to learn what no is, what this is than, you know, getting out there in the world and learning it that way cuz it's going to be a whole different, you know, vibe when you've never heard like no or whatever the case is, you know, from your own parents and whatnot. I feel like that was like really prevalent in this situation.

[00:14:43]>> Yeah.

[00:14:44]>> What's she Go ahead. I was gonna say, "Look what she did." Like Dom was breaking up with her and she just couldn't take the no. You I mean she couldn't take the rejection. She couldn't handle it. You know, he was telling her no, like we're done. And she could not understand that someone was telling her no.

[00:15:00]>> And on that note, so and I've heard elsewhere like in all this of like yeah, he was breaking up with her. Do you think that this was like one of the defining things that led to the events that took place is he was done with her, he was getting rid of her, however you want to say it. And it was just like she was done or whatever. Snap. Yeah, >> she had been for months. She was completely spiraling is what it was. She attempted this two weeks before. Very close friends and witnesses like I've heard firsthand just exactly what she was doing. You know, you've seen it in text messages, you saw the videos. It was completely she was so toxic and she couldn't handle the thought of losing him. And like I always said, it's like Dom had everything going for him. He was came from a nice very nice well-off family. You know what I'm saying? Like one in stocks and had his life together and was starting a clothing company. He had goals and am he was very ambitious and she had absolutely nothing without him. She had nothing like no job, no future, no, you know, I think that that is very much like she just couldn't let him go.

[00:16:01]>> Yeah. I mean that that definitely seems like that what was going on. And did you know like in the whole group did you know Dave your like did you know him like through them or anything about him other than like once the case you know took place and whatnot?

[00:16:14]>> No he actually um I just sat down with Divine on my podcast and we talked for hours. That was one of my questions cuz I had never met him. He was a newer friend. He was a football player and he injured himself and like made new friends and Don was one of like the new friends. So my dad had just met him I think the day before. So I never got to meet him.

[00:16:33]>> Yeah. His story was so sad in that way of you know seeing the trajectory he was on like wanting to do the football and the b and then that you know got taken away not by his choice obviously through injury and all the things that took place. You know one thing that sticks out and I kind of jump around a little bit. So if you ever want to interject I apologize. I'm a little bit add so when you say >> oh my no and I wander off. I'm sorry. So just if I do that >> because it's working back. Okay good.

[00:16:58]No, I can I don't pay attention. I am so ADD.

[00:17:02]Okay.

[00:17:02]>> So, no, you're good.

[00:17:04]>> Okay. Perfect. Perfect. Right. Because I get self-conscious where I'm like, we're over here right now, but let's jump over here. And that's how like doing these conversations is just that like letting it unfold. And you might say something that makes me want to ask you about this over here or talk about like whatever.

[00:17:16]Right. So, >> right. I might start just rambling on too. So, go ahead.

[00:17:20]>> Hey, go for it. Right. I'm I'm right there with you. So on the phone calls, all the previous phone calls of listening to McKenzie talking to her mom and all you different people and whatnot from jail and whatnot. One of the things that like blew my mind is like when her mom's telling her like, "Well, you're just hanging out with the wrong crowd and blah blah blah blah blah." And I'm thinking, "Your do McKenzie is the wrong crowd." You know, right?

[00:17:42]>> I never heard that. I barely listened to the calls. People have pointed out like a minute here, two minutes here. I tried to do it for my podcast like to hear some stuff. I can't handle it. But like Exactly. And they are calling, have you heard the recent ones of where they're calling us evil and things? And it's like I'm who killed who? I'm so confused. But yeah, exactly.

[00:18:00]>> Well, it's like then yeah, I can understand especially from your perspective. Obviously, this is your brother. It's your, you know, a very personal situation. So me not knowing any of y'all, the anger that it brought up in me, like it still when I listen to it, it's like this visceral thing where I'm like, what does this say about me?

[00:18:15]like because I'm not, you know, it's obviously I'm not related or anything like that, but it triggers me listening to it. It's just infuriating. And I think for me, Go ahead. Sorry.

[00:18:26]>> No, I was going to say I get that like I sometimes wonder like just why the case is so interesting to people and so many people like there are so many people that love Dom or like I don't know. It's so that could be why maybe like just that it's so outrageous, you know, what they're doing and how they talk and things. So interesting. And it's all those things. And I think one of the things too or one of the many things is yet number one that the tone deafness like Shaina said earlier of just you know from everybody involved the mom McKenzie. And I think too like listening to it and I think also seeing with the crash come out and how many people arrived at this I was like okay so I'm not just crazy where people all were just like wait there's something off with this parental relationship here with this girl with Mackenzie. Yeah.

[00:19:08]Because it's almost like they're trying to be friends before parents. And then when you see that in context of what took place and so to me I'm just kind of like so what were these were the boys just garbage to her? Cuz it's almost like within 24 hours it was like oh well you know okay well that sucks that that happened. What's next? Like what what are we doing now? And I was like, "What?" You know, she also, speaking of McKenzie, when she was talking about her mom was like, "She was up at his grave site every day and blah blah blah blah blah." And then they showed some of the footage and I'm like, "She's getting content for Instagram." Like authentic vibe off of this at all.

[00:19:46]>> She also they this is facts like from day one after the crash, they sat there and came up with they concocted a story.

[00:19:54]Okay. They ended. They told us that she was unconscious for three or four days and lied. Meanwhile, she's in the hospital bed making Tik Toks and trying to get modeling gigs. But you're telling us as we're praying and crying, you know, praying for her to wake up. We thought she was unconscious for for days. But all of that from day one, any witness, anyone she was around, she put on a whole like, "Oh my god, I'm so innocent and I'm so sad." like it was a complete show from the second that it happened.

[00:20:26]>> Mhm. Oh yeah. I believe it. I believe it cuz Yeah. that I was looking through some of the photographs the uh from the foyer request of her and I guess this is when she's in the hospital and I'm like she loves taking pictures with that neck brace. That was her personality trait for like however long she had that on.

[00:20:42]You know what I'm saying?

[00:20:43]>> Yeah. Filming. Like I do I always say like could you imagine killing two people? one, your supposed boyfriend of four years that you loved. Could you imagine killing him and his friend, like two men, and filming yourself in a hospital bed within hours to make videos? What kind of level of psychoticness is that? I don't understand. I really don't. It's >> beyond. Yeah. I think that's another reason why it's grabbed the public's attention so much is the audacity in so many different levels and arenas of the audacity. Were you, Speaking of audacity, were you in the courtroom? I can't remember. I feel like you were during when she spoke to the judge and read that letter at like sentencing or whatever, were you in there?

[00:21:28]>> Yep.

[00:21:29]>> What was the Cuz like when I watched that, my mouth is still on the floor.

[00:21:32]like the way she's like walking up. She starts talking before she even gets to the podium and she has like a list of excuses and I'm just like, you know, sitting here and luckily the judge I love when the judge was like, "So what?

[00:21:44]Dave was a new friend. That means his life was just like whatever." It's like full display of like what's going on in the household and just yikes. Like what was your vibe when you were in the courtroom?

[00:21:55]>> It was so awkward. I'm very empathetic and like I felt I feel bad just like when Steve lost his or is on leave or whatever with this job. Like I feel bad for people. I really do. I feel bad for the whole situation. But I was like, "Oh god, it got so awkward and quiet. It was like, oh, like yeah, she I was so surprised that that judge saw through her the way she did like she must be a smart she's a smart lady, you know?" It was just so awkward and it meant nothing. It really did. We were just like, "You couldn't have come up with anything better than that. You look like an idiot. I'm sorry." like, you know, and still to this day, like they've done nothing but slander my brother's name everywhere. They let people say terrible things about him, you know, just to make Kenzie look better. And they they haven't put I'm like waiting for them to come out and say, "Stop talking about Dominic this way. He was a victim." You know what I'm saying? Like, you just continue to let these millions of people now, you know, most people are supporting him as they should, but you get internet trolls. Like, if it were me, I would come out and be like, "Stop this." like we loved him. None of that at all. No remorse whatsoever. They're ridiculous.

[00:22:59]>> And let me ask you a couple of questions on that note that I just thought of if you have any more intel in this. So number one, there's a whole thing about when this took place and like the cops show up at the not the hotel room, the hospital room about whatever this language is that McKenzie and her mother talk to each other. Number one, do you know anything about that? And is it true that she said something to her mother along the lines of, "Should I tell him I had a seizure?" Do you have any insight into that? It was translated. So, it's a type of like gypsy uh carney talk. They call it like a carnival talk. And she's trying to backpedal now. I just think I saw something like a quick real maybe or something this morning that she was trying to say that's not what was said, but it was translated. And I have friends that speak it as well that they only talk. It's a language so that people don't know what you're saying.

[00:23:46]So, when the police came in, it wasn't even an investigation, I don't think, at that time. and they came in to give her her phone and to um like you know see if she was okay and Kenzie like the first thing out of her mouth in that language she you know looked at her mom was like can I just tell them I had a seizure or something like that so it's like I don't know like how much more we there shouldn't have even been a trial I would have just taken that and found her guilty you know what I'm saying like come on now that's real >> yeah that part was fascinating because they do it a lot on the phone calls and of course I have no idea I mean I can barely keep up with a normal conversation these these days, let alone, you know, two people going like back and forth with that. But it's fascinating to be like, okay, why are we doing this? Why are we talking about this? And the other question is the whole POTS thing where it's like the mother's really, you know, both of them, whatever, but are sticking with, oh, she had pots. She had POTS. But even looking back at like her driving record where it's like there's nothing listed as she has no kind of medical thing of like anything that would uh what do you call it like inhibit her driving? Do you know anything about that? Like was that a thing or do you have any intel into that?

[00:24:50]>> It was never a thing. It was never a thing. And now she's trying to act in prison. I just talked to the girl she was in prison with yesterday and she pretends to like this is ridiculous.

[00:25:00]It's so psychotic. I guess she's pretending to like have like wander off and pretend like she's having episodes.

[00:25:06]It's not real. Like listen to the freaking calls. Like it I swear to God I even was laugh. I was like, you got to be like, she's she's she's a man. So, she's doing that. But before that, like, nope. That was not it wasn't a thing.

[00:25:23]And she also went two weeks after she killed my brother and DaVon. Like two weeks after she went and got her license back. That was very important to her to go and get her license back. Meanwhile, I wasn't even in the car and I couldn't drive for months. I was having anxiety attacks when I hit like 60. Like thinking about what my brother went through. How in 2 weeks are you going to the BMV to get your license back? And then you sign something that says you don't have any. She It's a government signed document. You don't have any ailments that will prohibit you from driving or anything. She signed it two weeks later. Get the heck out of here.

[00:25:53]her mom. I think the only the only medical records and this is alleged like I can't don't quote me but I believe the only time that it showed up in medical records was after the crash that I believe Natalie mentioned to the doctor or something but I think it was after I know it was after the crash but I'm not sure who mentioned it but there wasn't anything prior really and also with that like the street that it happened on >> I've had I've talked to experts we've listened to medical experts and things like actual doctors and things like that like pots would have relaxed your body.

[00:26:27]Okay. And the street that it's on like her foot was pedal to the metal. No easing up. But the street that it's on, it goes like this. Okay. It's a big snake. So, in order to maintain control, and that's why they took the judge right before the trial started, it was the first thing the judge did. They took the judge to the street so she could get a feel of the street cuz you have to drive it. You don't have, you could imagine it, but like you have to, let's say you're going 35, you have to be you're like whipping. You know what I'm saying?

[00:26:58]Like if she was unconscious, you would she would ended up left or right or anywhere but making it down the actual street and slamming into that building.

[00:27:07]Like that was no pots. No pots.

[00:27:13]>> I didn't know that the judge went. I love that she did that.

[00:27:17]>> Yeah, that was the first thing she did.

[00:27:19]They did. really.

[00:27:20]>> Mhm.

[00:27:20]>> And you you I feel like I heard you saying somewhere that you went and drove that that stretch or something like that. Is that like an area cuz they made it sound like oh she took this road all the time. Is that like a thing where like in that area? Is it a a used road or whatever frequently?

[00:27:34]>> Yeah. So that that road actually it reminds me before Dom passed even it reminded me of Dom because I used to cut through to go to basketball from an office to basketball to his game. So it always that street always remind me of him. But it wasn't a cut through to Dom's house. That's actually out of the way to Dom's house. It was a longer drive. There was no reason. They were going from their friend's house to Dom's and it was out of the way. There was no way. And then even in the video, my friend Richard called me yesterday and he was talking about it and I was like, he's like, "What do you think happened?"

[00:28:05]You know, I'm like, "I know what happened. I know that they're driving down the main road. They started arguing like they had been for months, breaking up on and off. So toxic." She snapped, went nuts, and took a right down that street to slam into that building. And you could tell, he even said, he's like, "Yeah, you could see at 5:00 a.m. the street is there's no cars on the road."

[00:28:26]You know what I'm saying? I know the street. Everyone knows the street.

[00:28:28]There's no cars. So, you can see in the video where she goes right, but she breaks like three times. She's pumping on the brakes. And he was like, you were fighting, you know, right there. There's no, you don't even have to break to go right on the street. You know what I'm saying? Like there's no reason she was slamming on her brakes like that. It started at the top. I don't want to.

[00:28:47]It's so terrible. But yeah.

[00:28:50]>> Wow. Yeah. And I bet you anything when the judge went into that road, and I'm not trying to sit here and say she's unprofessional or anything like that, but like when she went and drove it, you know, she was probably like, "Uh-huh."

[00:29:00]Yeah. Okay. Let's see what this guy say.

[00:29:02]But I I've seen what I needed to see for literally it was like, "You can't make it down that street unless you're conscious." You see what I'm saying? So yeah, that was exactly it. Anybody that has a doubt, drive down the street, be my guest, you know.

[00:29:17]>> Yeah.

[00:29:18]>> Try it.

[00:29:18]>> Well, and two, like like you said, like the street with being again, I've never been there obviously, but just like looking at the trajectory of it and whatnot. I mean, I'm just like, yeah, I don't see how if you were passed out or whatever. I've been in a car wreck where I was making a left-hand turn and somebody went into me at 50 m hour or whatever. And I can remember starting to make the turn and then waking up with airbags and like you know it like it whatever. So when she was like well I turned down the road and then like I don't remember anything. I'm like okay look I get adrenaline is going to make you blank out on like a little aspect of it but the whole like I made a turn and then blacked out just you know that's it. I'm like no that's not something's not adding up with that at all. you know, if she was going to make something up, I'm like, well, I mean, obviously she did, but like she should have been more like, well, no, I was going and then this happened. Like closer to the situation because there's just no way you could maintain that control and the trajectory that she did so perfectly. Go ahead.

[00:30:14]>> I forgot all of this and I have a very bad memory, but you just sparked something. I forgot like in all these interviews I've done and there's just so much of like that's like make you think like so when this first happened her dad actually there was a report the police reported it was in the trial as well but like the police reported I believe that he actually asked for her to go to like a psych ward and he said like she did this on purpose she was trying to kill herself. I I promise like that's >> I remember hearing something about that.

[00:30:45]>> Yeah. So like the father said that and then of course he backpedalled as they all have done but it was like immediately so and it just it makes me sad cuz it's like why can't you just take your punishment and find God and like this is just terrible. What's happening now is just terrible. I hate seeing like her family being made fun of and stuff even though how terrible they are to us. Like one of my friends called me this morning. He was like well it's you know I don't want you to be like hateful or and I'm like d I'm just trying to defend my brother if they didn't do this. You know what I'm saying? if they don't come out like I'm just in defense mode constantly, you know, and it's annoying. It's so annoying. Here we are four years later that I've got to, you know, keep defending my brother who's not here anymore. Like she's the monster, you know, and I hope people see that. I was worried that people wouldn't and I think they have. So, >> Oh, yeah. I mean, for sure. cuz following this case like prior to the crash coming out, you know, cuz it was mostly like I mean obviously the personalization of your family and people around there locally that knew about it and then it made its way to say true crime world on the internet or whatever. And I mean most that I saw was like people were just like what the you know this is insane this girl like what and her parents. And so then when the crash came out obviously and I feel bad for y'all because it reopens up to the entire like whatever you call it nation the world whatever like it's a whole new thing and it's like oh here it goes again. And you know I would hope too and at least from my viewpoint what I see is that people align with what you're talking about where it's like they see it for what it is. You know what I'm saying? They're not looking at it like, oh, you know, they see Mackenzie and her parents for what they are is what I'm trying to get at. And I think that it it kind of highlighted that. Did you when you did the crash, did they tell you like Mackenzie's going to show her face in this or like anything like that?

[00:32:26]>> They said they were going to try. So, at the time, because I didn't want to do it, we didn't want to do it for the whole They they reached out for months and months and months for me to for us to go on it, anybody from Dom's family.

[00:32:39]And we all declined for the longest time. It wasn't until the last second that they had to come back for me and like cuz I was like wait a minute like I can't let there be a Netflix movie and me not be able to talk about my brother like and let everybody else do it. When I went there that day they mentioned like we're going to try. It wasn't for sure at the time and then I did get to preview it in January and since then I haven't rewatched it. I previewed like a not the final cut so and I haven't rewatched what was final. I don't want to see it ever again really. But >> yeah, I did not know. No, I didn't know.

[00:33:10]When I taped for them at the very end, they said they were trying to if the jail would let them see her, basically.

[00:33:17]So, I was surprised when January they flew in to show me it like the pre-edittor or the pre-final version, whatever that she was in it. It was Oh, it was terrible. Ter, very, very hard to watch.

[00:33:29]>> I can only imagine.

[00:33:31]>> She was so put on, too. like you could just tell I mean I don't know her but just from how what I've known of her watching her I was like oh this is she's doing the best she can to try and present a certain whatever and I love that they kept in at the very end when they were like she turned to her lawyer and was like is that good or you know I didn't like whatever and you know one of the things that I see in situations like that is even with the mom's speech and this that and the other and I'm just like why can't we speak from the heart like why does she have to turn to her lawyer and I understand the legalities of you know you're trying to do appeals, you're trying to do this or whatever.

[00:34:05]But also just like a if we're authentic, we should speak from the heart and not be worried about am I making myself look bad? Am I doing this? You know what I'm saying? There's none of that from any of them. It's very >> structed and scripted.

[00:34:19]>> Mhm.

[00:34:19]>> Like their lawyer. And and the thing is is like if I killed my boyfriend of four years that I loved, I would be like, I don't care if I sit in jail for for 20 years. I'm gonna say anything I want today on Netflix. You know what I'm saying? And and talk how I want and feel. It was completely The words were scripted. Those weren't her words. The way she slows down her voice, the way everything about that was like, who is that? Like, it was not her at all. Yeah.

[00:34:48]So, >> yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Is there anything that I haven't asked you that you're wanting to like put out there or you know what I'm saying? like is there anything else that you want to go over that you feel like hey I didn't have a chance to get this out to the audience or whatever.

[00:35:00]>> The only thing is like this petition is new with the modernized the dom's law it's going to be called. You know with my podcast I am starting I really want to try to just build a platform so that my voice and my family's voice can be louder than her and all of her minions.

[00:35:15]I think that's about it.

[00:35:16]>> I could literally be like hey you're taking the weekend off. Let's just sit and talk. I love talking to you just in general. You sound like a really cool person and so easy to talk to and I love the stuff that you're doing. You know, when you talk about like, oh, we declined doing Netflix and stuff like that. You know, I just want to say like from a human perspective, not like a true crime person perspective. Y'all getting out there and talking for your brother or for your dads and all the, you know, all the roles he played in your life to meant so much because even though I know I don't know y'all personally, it brought him to life for me as somebody who just knew him through say a headline or whatever. and you humanizing him in that way. So, I think it was awesome that you did Netflix and that you brought this because here we are talking about Tom about, you know, your relationship with him, the petition you're doing for him or, you know, the laws and, you know, in his name and keeping his memory going. So, I find that incredibly admirable. I've, you know, experienced loss in my own way, but nothing in the way of having a family member taken from me by somebody else through their actions like that.

[00:36:14]So, I can't say I know what that's like, but it's very inspiring to me to listen to your story and what you're doing with that loss and, you know, putting one foot in front of the other and like, hey, let's put this out here. Let's make these changes. Let's do that. I think society needs more people like you and I'm really appreciative of the work and the voice that you're giving him.

[00:36:34]>> Thank you. And like I did another thing was I wanted to spread awareness of like I used to watch true crime too. Ever since I was like four years old, I was had an obsession with serial killers and things, but like ever since Dom passed, I've not listened to not one I don't want to hear it because when you're on this side, like I get it's entertainment. It was made for entertainment for everybody, but like I wanted to shed awareness on like the internet has like desensitized everybody. Like we are this actually happened was a real person. He was a brother, a son, an uncle, a best friend.

[00:37:06]And we like some of the things you see written online like people just don't care at all. Like nobody cares if there's a completely shattered family, you know, heartbroken hearts ripped from their chest, you know, and the friends too and like they just don't care. So I would like to bring awareness like that what people say online, you know, surrounding these cases and things, you know, people see that and then like just try to be more kind. I guess people are terrible out there. They really are.

[00:37:31]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:37:32]>> Yeah. And I think, you know, like you said, there's real people behind the cases, the victims, their families.

[00:37:39]Yeah. Because there's always like in these situations that we see, there's the obvious victim, like the person whose life was lost or whatever, but the ripple effect from that and the victimization of that that it's like I look at like a tree ring, like the rings in a tree or whatever, and it goes so far out and it's generational, you know, because you see these things. I don't know if you're familiar with the Susan Smith case in South Carolina that took place years ago, but this it was a terrible case years ago, whatever, where she was up for parole 25 years later.

[00:38:04]And I'm talking like different generations that never even like knew are coming up and talking like about victim impact statements. And it was just so eyeopening to be like, my gosh, look at how farreaching this this >> one person's actions like I say like my kids the way that they've been affected even like mommy's not happy anymore or we have to sit in the cemetery all day or they miss their uncle. They don't understand like it has been my nieces and nephews like and it will continue.

[00:38:33]this life will never like there's a before Dom and after and like he is a missing when I say like a missing piece man like we're not not right we are not right and it will never be the same and it sucks it sucks so bad like bad >> yeah I'm so sorry for your loss it's just I again I can't imagine I can't imagine the feeling and my heartaches for you and your whole family >> so I'm sorry and but again I'm glad to see that you're you're continuing his his name out there you know, and definitely I'm going to be signing your petition when soon as we log off here, I'll put it out there for sure. I absolutely love that you started one targeted at this specific thing. I cannot tell you how necessary that is. I think it is amazing. I'll definitely want to keep up with that and hear your journey with that, bringing this to law.

[00:39:21]I pray that it does it because it's so necessary. So absolutely necessary.

[00:39:28]>> That's I was excited. I was like, "This is great."

[00:39:30]>> Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Well, again, everybody, be sure check out Christine Big Sister Unhinge. All her links, everything for all the stuff we've talked about is going to be down in the description box below. I'd love to have you back on and talk to you again and just keep up to see how life is treating you again and following with this petition that you're doing. I think that's awesome. And that's it. Again, thank you for taking time out and thank you for being willing to talk about this because I know that can't be easy.

[00:39:54]>> No, thanks for I always say like I had two choices. one sit back like I've been doing, all of us have been doing and let the world talk about my brother like they knew him and have all this misinformation or I spoke up. So, I'm doing the latter. But I appreciate you.

[00:40:10]Yeah. Thanks for your time and your platform and things and getting the word out.

[00:40:15]>> Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Well, you take care and uh we will see you hopefully soon. Hey, hey. Welcome to the sofa squad. Sipping it from the cup path. Hey, hey, hey. Come laugh with the sofa squad. Can't roll my damn eyes hard enough.