CLEVELAND, Ohio

A former friend described the parents of Mackenzie Cirilla, known as “Hell’s Wheels,” as more focused on pleasing their daughter than on her upbringing. Jaina Maynard, who met Mackenzie in middle school, stated, “They didn’t really care about her. They cared more about getting her approval.”

According to Maynard, Mackenzie had significant control over her parents, Steve and Natalie Cirilla. “Kenzie runs the show. She runs her parents,” she said. “They should have been her parents, not her friends.”

Maynard claimed that the Cirillas allowed their daughter to behave “beyond a spoiled brat” for years, culminating in a tragic incident where Mackenzie drove into a brick wall in July 2022, resulting in the deaths of her ex-girlfriend Dominic Russo and a friend, Davion Flanagan.

A friend recalled how Natalie often acted more like one of the girls than a mother. “She didn’t seem like a perfect mother. She felt like one of our friends,” the friend noted. Yet, Maynard alleged that Mackenzie took advantage of this dynamic, being “emotionally and verbally abusive” to her mother.

In an example from eighth grade, Maynard described how Mackenzie routinely told her mother to “shut up” during a trip to a haunted house, and Natalie complied. “No matter what Kenzie says, her mother just follows,” she stated.

Maynard recounted conversations where Mackenzie criticized her mother as “very annoying” and a “bitch.” She argued that despite the Cirillas doing everything for her, Mackenzie frequently belittled them, even regarding expensive clothes she desired.

Now 21, Mackenzie was convicted in 2023 for the murders and is serving a 15-year to life sentence in an Ohio women’s prison, currently appealing her conviction.

The Cirillas have faced scrutiny for their seemingly lax approach to their daughter’s actions, especially after their strong defense of her in the Netflix documentary “The Crash.” Steve discussed knowing about Mackenzie’s marijuana use, suggesting it wasn’t a concern for him.

His comments led to him being placed on administrative leave from his teaching position in suburban Cleveland, with allegations of poor judgment under investigation. Maynard supported the school’s actions, asserting that the Cirillas were aware of their daughter’s reckless behavior.

Former friends noted that Mackenzie often showcased her drug use on social media and engaged in troubling behavior that affected her peers. Maynard described a classmate who endured severe bullying by Mackenzie, leading the girl to leave the school district. “It was terrifying,” she expressed.

Despite the ongoing controversy, the Cirillas maintain their daughter’s innocence and have criticized the editing of the Netflix documentary. Their actions during Mackenzie’s sentencing sparked further backlash, particularly when Natalie referred to Flanagan as her “new friend” while asking for mercy from the judge.

Steve and Natalie have not yet provided comments in response to these developments.