An Ohio teenager convicted of killing her boyfriend and their friend in a high-speed crash has referred to herself as a “third victim” of the incident, according to a jail call later.

Mackenzie Shirilla made the comment during a conversation with her mother while she was being held at the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center, shortly after questioning why her attorney advised her not to testify in her own defense during her murder trial.

“I was asking him if I could just testify to show them that like, I have nothing to hide,” she said, describing her lawyer’s concerns about taking the stand. “He was like ‘I don’t know if that’s a good idea at this point.’”

Shirilla, who was tried in a bench trial, said she believed speaking in court would have changed how the case was viewed. She told her mother that if she had testified, “they’ll know that this was nothing but a car accident.” She added, “They’ll just see that there’s a third victim, and it’s me, and I lost the love of my life and a good friend, and now I have to deal with this grief the rest of my life.”

She also said she was struggling with the emotional aftermath of the crash, including fear of driving and ongoing trauma.

During the call, Shirilla expressed frustration over how the trial had unfolded and worried about remaining in custody while awaiting potential appeal. She also accused prosecutors of allowing “henchmen” to give false testimony, though she did not provide details or specify what she believed was inaccurate.

At one point, she asked her mother to seek bail assistance, saying, “Can you just pay my bond and get me out of here please,” while noting she understood her bond would likely be revoked following the court’s ruling.

Shirilla had been held on a $500,000 bond before her conviction. She was later found guilty of multiple charges, including four counts of murder, felonious assault, aggravated vehicular homicide, drug possession, and possessing criminal tools.

The case stems from a crash that occurred around dawn on July 31, 2022, in Strongsville, about 20 miles south of Cleveland. According to investigators, Shirilla—who was 17 at the time—was driving her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and their friend, Davion Flanagan, after a night out that included a graduation party and a stop at a friend’s home.

Authorities said the vehicle accelerated through a residential area before crashing into a brick building at more than 100 mph. Russo, 20, and Flanagan, 19, were pronounced dead at the scene. Shirilla survived after being airlifted to hospital.

Prosecutors argued the crash was an intentional act linked to a troubled relationship, describing it as a failed murder-suicide attempt. The defense maintained that Shirilla suffered from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition that can cause fainting and dizziness, and claimed she may have blacked out while driving.

Shirilla has since pursued multiple appeals in state courts, all of which have been denied.

She is currently incarcerated at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, serving two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life, with parole eligibility beginning in 2037.