‘Hell on Wheels’ killer Mackenzie Shirilla’s mom whines about daughter struggling ‘mentally’ in prison

The mother of Mackenzie Shirilla, known as the “Hell on Wheels” killer, has expressed her concerns about her daughter’s well-being in prison. Natalie Shirilla shared with the Daily Mail that Mackenzie, now 21 years old, is “mentally struggling” while serving her sentence at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. Mackenzie is currently serving two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life for the murder of her boyfriend Dominic Russo and a friend in 2022.

Natalie Shirilla mentioned that her daughter has been “struggling” and has even gained some weight while in prison. Despite the circumstances, she emphasized that Mackenzie still loves Dominic Russo, the victim she was convicted of killing by crashing her car into a wall at over 100 mph.

The mother also dismissed reports suggesting that Russo had tried to break up with Mackenzie before the tragic incident that took his life. She admitted that their relationship could be volatile at times but defended her daughter, saying that Mackenzie has refrained from speaking out on the advice of her protective mother.

Natalie Shirilla also addressed Mackenzie’s behavior in prison, where she has accumulated 32 conduct violations out of 36. She defended her daughter, claiming that some of the infractions were for minor offenses like not wearing her uniform. Mackenzie has faced charges for possession of contraband, unauthorized medication, and inappropriate conduct during video calls.

Despite her past actions, Mackenzie has now found employment as a food service worker in prison. She expressed boredom in a leaked call obtained by TMZ, where she mentioned there was “nothing for me to do.” Mackenzie was sentenced to life in prison in 2023 and will be eligible for parole in October 2037.

Her legal team continues to fight for her case in the Ohio Supreme Court after her appeal was rejected for being filed after the deadline. The Netflix documentary “The Crash” has reignited interest in her case, shedding light on the events that led to her incarceration. Natalie Shirilla remains supportive of her daughter, emphasizing that Mackenzie is still coping with the consequences of her actions while serving her time behind bars.