Mackenzie Cirilla’s Mother Speaks Out

The mother of Mackenzie Cirilla, who was convicted of murder, expressed her enduring love for her daughter’s late boyfriend, despite the tragedy surrounding his death. Natalie Cirilla shared concerns about her daughter’s well-being as she serves two concurrent 15-year sentences at the Ohio House of Corrections for Women in Marysville, where she is said to be “mentally suffering.”

“She’s having a hard time… it’s very difficult and challenging there,” the 51-year-old mother said, noting that Mackenzie has gained some weight but is still struggling mentally.

“I loved Dom. I still love Dom. Mackenzie still loves Dom. She’s going through a hard time. Dom was like a member of our family,” Natalie said, emphasizing her daughter’s emotional struggles. Reports suggesting that Russo was about to break up with Mackenzie before the crash are dismissed by Natalie.

On the day of the accident, Mackenzie was 17, and she and the victims were under the influence when the car crashed into a warehouse at a high speed, resulting in the deaths of Russo and a 19-year-old friend, Davion Flanagan.

While Natalie acknowledged the ups and downs of their relationship, she mentioned that Mackenzie is withholding her feelings, likely due to advice from her protective mother.

“Everything she said has been used against her in ways that make her seem evil or monstrous,” Natalie noted, advising Mackenzie to stay quiet to avoid further complications.

Even after being convicted of 32 out of 36 prison conduct violations, Natalie defended her daughter. She argued that many of the infractions were for rules that Mackenzie might not have known about.

Past incidents in prison include a contraband charge after authorities found prohibited items in her cell, as well as an encounter with unprescribed medication, which she claimed were just prenatal vitamins. She has had numerous video meetings with released prisoners and even pleaded guilty to some infractions, including exposing herself during video calls.

Mackenzie was known to have rather unorthodox behaviors, such as “dancing” or breaking curfew, which led to multiple violations. Notably, she previously referred to herself as “Cirilla the Killer,” yet her mother insists Mackenzie isn’t aggressive.

In a recent update, Mackenzie took on a food service job in prison, mentioning to her mother that she felt bored and wanted something to do.

Convicted in August 2023, Cirilla’s case gained renewed attention due to a Netflix documentary titled “The Crash.” She is expected to become eligible for parole in October 2037, though her legal team continues to work on her appeal after it was dismissed by the Ohio Supreme Court for being filed late.