Mackenzie Shirilla tells her mother she does not need rehabilitation while in jail

Mackenzie Shirilla told her mother she does not believe she requires rehabilitation, in a jail phone call obtained by PEOPLE.

The conversation took place whilst Mackenzie was held at the Cuyahoga County Jail, following her conviction in connection with the July 2022 crash that claimed the lives of her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and their 19-year-old friend, Davion Flanagan.

Two sentences of 15 years to life

The 21-year-old is currently serving two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio.

Prosecutors argued that Mackenzie deliberately drove her car into a brick wall at close to 100 mph, amid what they characterised as a toxic relationship between her and Russo.

Prison life, visitation and programmes

During the recorded conversation, Mackenzie and her mother, Natalie Shirilla, discussed what life in prison might look like following the conviction.

Their exchange covered topics including visitation arrangements, educational programmes and other resources made available to inmates at the facility.

"I like how they try to make it, like, enjoyable there," Mackenzie says. "Like, I don't even like, I don't want to enjoy life there, but, like, it's just sad. Like, I don't know."

Her mother responded by pointing out that incarceration is designed to serve a rehabilitative purpose.

"See, that's how jail is supposed to rehabilitate people, but I don't need to be rehabilitated," Mackenzie says. "Like I don't know that."

'Actual criminals'

Natalie went on to explain that prisons are intended to assist inmates in rebuilding their lives through education, employment opportunities, mental health support and various other programmes, all in preparation for their eventual reintegration into society.

"Not you, but people that have been convicted of crimes like actual criminals," she tells her daughter.

Fear over family and the future

Later in the conversation, Mackenzie — who will not be eligible for parole until 2037 — also spoke about her concerns over the prospect of never having a family upon a potential release from prison.

"I feel like I want to live off the grid, like, and I'm just — I'm just I'm thinking about like how I'm just gonna be like old when I get out of jail and like, I don't know, like I'm not gonna be able to have kids or like a family and sh-- like that," she says in the call.

Family maintains the crash was an accident

Mackenzie and her family have consistently maintained that she experienced a medical episode at the time of the crash and that the incident was not deliberate.

The case has returned to public attention following the release of a Netflix documentary entitled The Crash on 15 May. The film includes interviews with members of Mackenzie's family as well as relatives of the victims.