Mackenzie Shirilla’s mother, Natalie Shirilla, says her 21-year-old daughter has gained weight in prison and looks healthier, even as she remains “mentally struggling.” Natalie also addresses claims about bullying, daily routines, and roughly 36 misconduct tic
Mackenzie Shirilla’s life behind bars has become a family conversation again—this time with her mother, Natalie Shirilla, laying out what her daughter’s days look like inside.
The 21-year-old is serving two concurrent 15-to-life sentences for murdering her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and their friend, Davion Flanagan, in a car crash in 2022. In an interview shared over the weekend, Natalie said her daughter has been physically changing in ways that stand out.
“She’s actually gained a little bit of weight, she looks healthier.”
Natalie also said the improvement doesn’t mean Mackenzie is doing fine overall. “She’s still mentally struggling,” she added, describing how hard it is for people living that reality. “She’s struggling, they all are. It’s very hard and challenging in there.”
Despite that strain, Natalie said she isn’t worried about Mackenzie being bullied in prison. She described a daughter who knows how to handle herself if it ever happens.
“I think some people get targeted at times but it’s not something she talks about. She’s not afraid to stand up for herself. We talk about how to navigate through those situations. But from what I can see, the women really take care of each other in there.”
To keep herself occupied, Natalie said Mackenzie is trying to stay busy in the day-to-day rhythm of prison life. “She paints, she draws, she’s very talented. She listens to music or watches movies.” Natalie also said inmates can use tablets with controlled apps—though they can’t access the internet—and that the facility includes a gym and fitness classes.
“She listens to music or watches movies. They have tablets that have controlled apps. They can’t access the Internet but they can watch movies or listen to music. They also have a gym and can take fitness classes.”
The routine matters because, Natalie said, Mackenzie had been struggling with boredom and the slow drag of time. During a phone call between the two, Natalie recalled Mackenzie’s frustration. “Like it’s only 3:30, how is it only 3:30?. For real I did not even know it was 3:30 I thought it was like 5. It’s 3:30.”.
Later, a prison spokesperson confirmed that Mackenzie took on a job as a food service worker. The change came after her complaint about being bored and feeling like time moved too slowly.
Still, Natalie’s account doesn’t soften the other side of Mackenzie’s prison record. She has been hit with roughly 36 misconduct tickets for breaking rules. Natalie addressed the incidents in a way that suggests confusion about what counted as violations. saying. “A lot of the tickets she got were for stuff she wouldn’t even know were rules. I mean, she’s in her 20s so…. I don’t know about that one. All I can say is Mackenzie is not violent or aggressive.”.
Among the cited misconducts are tickets involving sexually explicit video calls with an ex-inmate.
There’s a clear tension in the picture Natalie paints: her daughter is physically “healthier” and staying active with art. music. movies. fitness classes. and even work—yet the record still includes repeated rule violations. Her mother’s comments frame the mental and emotional burden as the tougher battle. while the prison misconduct history underscores how quickly daily choices can carry real consequences.
For now, the sentences remain in place, and the misconduct record doesn’t point toward any fast exit from jail. The story stays anchored in the same core fact: Mackenzie Shirilla is serving two concurrent 15-to-life terms for the 2022 killings of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan. and her time inside continues to be shaped by both coping and conflict.
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