The families of two murdered teenagers have expressed outrage after the killers posted sickening social media boasts about being "back together" in a young offenders' institution. Riley Tolliver, 19, and Kodi Wescott, 18, were among five individuals convicted of murdering childhood best friends Max Dixon, 15, and Mason Rist, 16, in Bristol during January 2024.
Prison Authorities' Blunder Leads to Reunion
Following their sentencing to minimum terms of 23 years, prison authorities inadvertently placed Tolliver and Wescott in the same young offenders' institute. This administrative error allowed the pair to reunite and subsequently post gloating images on Snapchat that quickly circulated on social media platforms.
Families' Distress Over Social Media Posts
Mason Rist's family were "appalled" to discover the images, which featured a caption reading "man dem together 3 ygb 3 young tuggz" - an apparent reference to Wescott's rap moniker. The photograph prompted immediate complaints from Mason's mother Nikki and sister Chloe, who described the situation as "crazy" and questioned why prison authorities would place co-defendants together.
"You would think the prison would know better than to put them together," Chloe stated. "They have all been active on social media, saying the gang's back together, and so on."
Pattern of Inappropriate Prison Behavior
This incident represents the latest in a series of controversies involving Wescott's prison conduct. Last year, it emerged that he had been creating drill music rap videos from his cell about the murders he committed, posting them on Instagram. When authorities shut down his initial account, he mockingly established a second one, further distressing the victims' families.
Prison Response and Separation
Following the family's complaint about the New Year Snapchat post, prison liaison officers confirmed that action had been taken to separate the offenders. "We can confirm that none of the co-defendants are currently in the same establishment," officials stated. "Following the reported social media posts, action was taken to move some of the offenders."
The authorities acknowledged that while "it is not always possible to keep co-defendants in separate establishments," steps can be taken to ensure separation when risks are assessed. They added that the matter had been escalated and shared with relevant establishments for appropriate action.
Ongoing Concerns About Prison Security
Mason's mother Nikki revealed she had seen additional images of Wescott posted to his Instagram account, raising serious questions about prison security measures. "I've just found out Kodi Westcott has been on his phone again in prison," she said. "It should have been taken off him. He has posted a picture on his Instagram and Snapchat account. The probation service said it had come from within the prison."
Families Question Monitoring and Consequences
Nikki expressed frustration about apparent monitoring failures during prison visits. "How can he have a phone during a visit to take a picture of him with his girlfriend and post it on Snapchat?" she asked. "We had this before with him. All we are told is that it will be a black mark against him when he is up for release in 20 years. It is disgusting."
She highlighted the imbalance between offenders' rights and victims' rights, stating: "They may talk about his human rights, but what about my human rights? They are not even aware of it until we report it. It is the second time it has happened."
Call for Stricter Measures
The family has called for more robust action against the offenders' social media activities. "All they will do is a simple cell search - but they are not going to find anything," Nikki said. "He is making a mockery of what he did. He has committed murder but just doesn't care. He needs all his social media to be shut down and blocked."
The case has highlighted significant concerns about young offenders' institute procedures, social media monitoring in prisons, and the ongoing trauma experienced by victims' families when offenders continue to publicize their crimes from behind bars.
