A convicted Ohio murderer is once again making headlines after disturbing new claims surfaced about her behaviour inside prison. Mackenzie Shirilla, who was found guilty of intentionally crashing her car and killing two people in 2022, has now been accused by a former prison girlfriend of proudly embracing the nickname “Shirilla the Killa” while serving her sentence.
Shirilla’s case became one of the most talked-about criminal trials in the United States due to her young age and the shocking details of the deadly crash. The story gained even more attention after the release of the Netflix documentary The Crash, which explored the investigation, trial, and public reaction surrounding the case.
Now, former inmates are speaking publicly about what they say life with Shirilla was like inside the Ohio Reformatory for Women.
Former Prison Girlfriend Shares New Claims
Former inmate Shyann Topping claimed she developed a romantic relationship with Shirilla while they were both in prison. According to Topping, the relationship lasted only a few weeks because she was released shortly after they met. However, during that short period, she said Shirilla often spoke about her reputation inside prison and told her that fellow inmates called her “Shirilla the Killa.”
Topping described Shirilla as confident, demanding, and highly focused on attention. She claimed Shirilla would become upset if she did not spend enough time with her and often questioned her if she arrived late to meet her in the prison yard.
According to Topping, Shirilla talked frequently about her future and believed she would eventually be released from prison despite her conviction. She claimed Shirilla dreamed about travelling again, attending concerts, becoming an influencer, and even writing a book about her life and criminal case.
Claims About Shirilla’s Behaviour Behind Bars
Another former inmate, Mary Katherine Crowder, also shared her observations about Shirilla’s behaviour in prison. Crowder claimed Shirilla acted like one of the most popular inmates and compared her personality to Regina George from the movie Mean Girls.
According to Crowder, Shirilla always appeared well-dressed, wore makeup regularly, and styled her hair carefully despite being in prison. She said many inmates knew who Shirilla was because of her high-profile case and the media attention surrounding it.
The former inmates also claimed Shirilla spent much of her free time listening to music from artists like Kid Cudi and Playboi Carti while doing arts, crafts, and other activities inside prison.
Former Inmates Say She Showed No Remorse
One of the biggest accusations made by the former inmates was that Shirilla never appeared remorseful about the crash that killed her boyfriend Dominic Russo and friend Davion Flanagan.
Topping claimed Shirilla was usually cheerful, energetic, and social inside prison. She said she rarely saw Shirilla upset or emotional about the case.
At first, Topping said she believed Shirilla’s version of events and thought the deadly crash may have been an accident. However, after learning more details about the evidence prosecutors presented during the trial, she changed her opinion.
She now believes Shirilla was more interested in fame and public attention than helping or honouring the victims’ families.
The Deadly 2022 Crash
Mackenzie Shirilla was only 17 years old when the deadly crash happened in July 2022. Prosecutors argued during the trial that she intentionally drove her vehicle into a building at extremely high speed, killing Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan instantly.
The prosecution presented surveillance footage, speed data, and expert testimony to support their claim that the crash was deliberate. The case attracted nationwide attention because of the shocking nature of the allegations and Shirilla’s age at the time.
In 2023, a judge convicted Shirilla and sentenced her to two concurrent prison terms of 15 years to life.
Appeal Still Ongoing
Shirilla is currently appealing her conviction for a second time. However, Topping criticised those efforts and claimed Shirilla has never properly explained what happened or shown real sympathy toward the victims’ families.
The former inmate described the crimes as “sick” and “evil” and said she no longer believes Shirilla’s claims about the crash being accidental.
