Dominic Russo’s Sister Slams Mackenzie Shirilla for Talking About Male Suitors in Prison Call with Mom: “Go to Therapy”
Mackenzie Shirilla, who is serving two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life for the 2022 crash that killed Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan, is drawing renewed attention after a recorded prison phone call surfaced in which she discussed receiving messages from several male admirers while incarcerated. In the call, obtained by TMZ, Shirilla spoke to her mother, Natalie Shirilla, about different men she has been talking to behind bars, including one named Kevin. She described him in enthusiastic terms, saying she “loves” talking to him and does not care much about his age. She also mentioned other men, including Sam and Phil, and acknowledged, “It’s all boys. That’s so bad.”
The call’s timing is unclear, including whether it happened before or after reports that Shirilla had a prison girlfriend. In the same conversation, Shirilla again insisted she is innocent and said she would respond to people sending her hate mail. The resurfaced audio has intensified public scrutiny around her conduct while incarcerated.
Dominic Russo’s sister, Christine Russo, reacted strongly after hearing the recording. Christine, who took part in Netflix’s documentary The Crash about her brother’s death, told TMZ that Shirilla appears to be choosing her words carefully now that she knows her calls are monitored. She criticized both Shirilla and her mother, saying it is sad that Natalie appears to condone her daughter talking to men she does not know. Christine argued that Shirilla should be focusing on therapy, accountability, and faith rather than relationships with strangers.
Her comments reflect the continuing anger felt by Dominic Russo’s family more than three years after the fatal incident. Christine also used the moment to repeat her belief that Shirilla needs real help rather than attention from older men or other people on the outside. She said the family wants her to take responsibility and seek treatment, rather than continue to behave in ways they view as disturbing or inappropriate.
Shirilla has already faced criticism for other alleged conduct in prison. Since being locked up in 2023, she has reportedly encountered disciplinary issues, including an allegation that she participated in a sexually explicit video call with a visitor. Those reports have fueled further backlash and complicated her efforts to pursue release.
The latest phone call has once again placed Shirilla at the center of controversy, with supporters and critics divided over her behavior and claims of innocence. For Dominic Russo’s family, however, the focus remains on the lives lost in the crash and the pain they say continues to follow the case.
