Mackenzie Shirilla, known as the "Hell on Wheels" killer, has shared a new photograph from behind bars following a recent legal setback. Supporters posted the image on her Instagram account, stating Shirilla is "trying to do better every day and holding on to hope."
Shirilla, 21, is serving a sentence of 15 years to life at the Ohio Reformatory for Women for intentionally crashing her car at 100 mph in July 2022. The incident killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, and friend Davion Flanagan, 19.
Her conviction in 2023 included four counts of felonious assault and two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. The judge presiding over her case described her actions as "literal hell on wheels."
The Ohio Supreme Court rejected Shirilla's latest bid for post-conviction relief in late June. The denial was based on a technicality, as her lawyers filed the request one day past the state-mandated deadline. The court's decision did not address the substance of her appeal.
Shirilla's legal team has filed a new motion asking the Ohio Supreme Court to reconsider the appeal, citing confusion over deadlines. This move follows a series of denied appeals aimed at overturning her conviction.
Previously, her attorneys argued that Shirilla, who was 17 at the time of the crash, may have been experiencing a "pre-existing medical condition" that caused her to black out before the incident. They also alleged that her previous defense team failed to adequately investigate this condition or present expert testimony.
While incarcerated, Shirilla has accumulated 23 complaints, including incidents of exposing herself during video calls and possessing unauthorized items in her cell. She recently began a new job serving meals at the prison.
Mackenzie Shirilla will be eligible for parole in 2037. The case gained wider attention through a Netflix documentary titled "The Crash."