A former inmate has publicly challenged the remorseful image of convicted murderer Mackenzie Shirilla as portrayed in a Netflix documentary, alleging that Shirilla behaved like a prison celebrity and leader of a "Mean Girls" clique behind bars.
Mary Katherine Crowder, 27, spent six months at the Ohio Reformatory for Women with Shirilla starting in April 2024.
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She told the New York Post that Shirilla's appearance in the documentary "The Crash" drastically contradicted her daily prison behavior.
"When she walked out in the documentary, my jaw literally dropped, because her demeanor and the way that she looked was nothing like the person I was in there with," Crowder said.
Shirilla, 21, is serving two concurrent life sentences for intentionally driving a car at 100 mph into a brick building in July 2022, killing her boyfriend Dominic Russo and friend Davion Flanagan.
Crowder claimed that Shirilla maintained a fully glamorous look in prison, with makeup and outfits financed by her parents and online sugar daddies, rather than appearing subdued as shown to streaming viewers.
"When I was in there with her, you'd look at her and she had her makeup done every day, she was very well put together — almost like preppy," Crowder said.
The documentary features Shirilla attributing the fatal crash to her diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which causes dizziness.
Crowder disputed the validity of these medical issues based on her observations.
"Never one time did I ever see Mackenzie Shirilla go for a blood pressure check, take any type of medication or go to sick call, ever experience dizziness.
In fact, Mackenzie Shirilla would go out in 100-degree heatwaves with baby oil on her and sit in the prison yard and tan … the girl does not have any medical issues," Crowder said.
Crowder also asserted that Shirilla altered her vocal tone for the television production, abandoning her usual high-pitched speaking style for a deeper demeanor.
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"She talked like a Valley girl when I was in there with her.
Her voice was very happy-go-lucky and high-pitched, but now she has an edge to her voice," Crowder said.
According to Crowder, Shirilla used her high-profile conviction to establish an elite status among other incarcerated women.
"Everyone knew why she was there, and she walked around like she was this famous person within prison," Crowder said.
Crowder noted that Shirilla behaved as a dominant social figure, comparing her to the character Regina George from the movie "Mean Girls."
"She definitely carried herself like she was the Regina George of prison … she was very much like an 'It girl,'" Crowder said.
In TikTok videos, Crowder also detailed that Shirilla engaged in romantic relationships with female inmates and was punished with solitary confinement for physical intimacy.
"Yes, Mackenzie has had multiple girlfriends … she was walking around with hickies on her neck," Crowder claimed.
Crowder questioned the authenticity of Shirilla's grief over the victims.
"If she was grieving or remorseful, she would not have gone to prison and jumped into prison relationships over the next six months," Crowder said.
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Shirilla's defense attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
