A newly surfaced jailhouse phone call involving Mackenzie Shirilla has added another emotional layer to an already widely discussed and controversial case surrounding the 2022 crash that killed her boyfriend and a close friend in Strongsville, Ohio. In the recording, obtained by PEOPLE, Shirilla is heard speaking candidly with her mother, expressing fear, frustration, and deep uncertainty about her future while she awaited sentencing in Cuyahoga County Jail.

At the time of the call, which has not been precisely dated but was recorded prior to her transfer in August 2023 to the Ohio Reformatory for Women, Shirilla had already been convicted of murder in connection with the fatal crash. She is now serving two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life.

During the emotional conversation, Shirilla discusses the overwhelming pressure she feels following her conviction and voices her belief that prosecutors are unfairly targeting her. Speaking directly to her mother, Natalie Shirilla, she expresses anger and distress over the legal proceedings and her uncertain fate.

“They’re just trying to f— me,” she says, referring to the prosecution’s case against her. Her tone reflects frustration and fear as she describes her belief that the legal system is working against her.

She also reveals her anxiety about the possibility of the harshest possible punishment. At one point, Shirilla says she is terrified that she could face either a death sentence or spend the rest of her life in prison without the possibility of release.

“I’m just scared they’re gonna be like, you have the death penalty or you’re going to life for 40 years,” she says during the call, her voice reportedly wavering as she contemplates what her future might hold.

Throughout the conversation, her mother attempts to calm her down and encourage her to focus on the present rather than becoming overwhelmed by fear of what might come next. Natalie urges her daughter to remain grounded and trust in the legal process, reminding her that the family is continuing to fight her case from the outside.

“Let us fight, let us do what we’re doing,” her mother tells her. “Just live right now. Focus on right now.”

When Shirilla responds that she does not know what her future holds, her mother continues to reassure her, warning that fear and anxiety about the future will only make the situation harder to endure emotionally.

“Anxiety and fear,” Natalie says. “Stay grounded.”

Later in the call, Natalie also advises her daughter to mentally prepare for the possibility of a severe sentence, while emphasizing that legal efforts to support her are ongoing. She encourages Mackenzie not to lose hope but to brace herself for any outcome as the case moves forward.

“Just prepare for crazy sentencing though, OK?” she says, while assuring her that the family is continuing to fight for her case from outside prison walls.

The call highlights the emotional strain placed on Shirilla as she awaited sentencing following a trial that drew widespread media attention and public debate. During her 2023 bench trial, prosecutors argued that Shirilla intentionally drove her Toyota Camry into a brick wall at nearly 100 miles per hour after experiencing escalating tension in her relationship with her boyfriend, 20-year-old Dominic Russo.

At the time of the crash, Russo was seated in the front passenger seat, while their friend, 19-year-old Davion Flanagan, was in the back seat. Both young men died from the impact, while Shirilla survived with serious injuries.

Investigators presented vehicle data in court indicating that in the seconds leading up to the crash, the accelerator pedal remained fully depressed while the brake was not engaged. According to prosecutors, this evidence supported the argument that the crash was a deliberate act rather than an accident.

Shirilla, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, was ultimately tried as an adult due to the severity of the case. She has consistently denied intentionally causing the crash, maintaining that she has no memory of the moments leading up to the collision. Her defense claimed she may have lost consciousness due to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a medical condition that can cause dizziness and fainting episodes. However, the court noted that no medical documentation or expert testimony confirming such a diagnosis was presented during the trial.

Despite her defense arguments, Shirilla was convicted and sentenced to two concurrent prison terms of 15 years to life. Her legal team has since filed multiple appeals, all of which have been denied by the courts.

She will become eligible for parole in 2037, though her case continues to attract public attention and debate, particularly through its coverage in true crime documentaries, including Netflix’s The Crash, which was released on May 15.

In addition to courtroom proceedings, Shirilla’s case has also drawn interest from the wider public due to previously released recordings and documentary reconstructions that attempt to piece together her mindset and actions before the fatal crash. The recently revealed jail call adds another dimension to that narrative, showing a young defendant grappling with fear, legal pressure, and an uncertain future while maintaining her claim of innocence.

As legal discussions continue, the case remains one of the most widely analyzed and controversial teen-related criminal cases in recent years, with ongoing debates about intent, mental state, and responsibility still shaping public perception.