This story takes place in Mattapoisett, MA between 2012 and 2017.
In 2012 Michelle Carter & Conrad Roy fell in love. They met in FL in 2012 when Conrad was visiting his great aunt & Michelle was visiting her grandparents. They were introduced by Conrad’s great aunt & the two quickly hit it off, riding bikes & going to the beach. The two met only five times though exchanged thousands of text messages over the course of two years. Lynn, Conrad’s mom didn’t even realize they were boyfriend & girlfriend since Michelle never came around. She knew they texted but didn’t realize the extent of their relationship, meeting her only two times total.
Family called Conrad C3 since he was Conrad the III, named after his grandfather & his father. He was one of three children with 2 younger sisters, Camdyn & Morgan. The family’s life was surrounded by the water in both work & play. He earned his captain’s license from Northeast Maritime Institute. Conrad grew up on sailboats; in his junior year of HS, he started working with his dad full time. His parents separated when Conrad was 16 & their divorce hit him hard. During HS, parents noticed that Conrad’s grades were slipping, he struggled to focus & had trouble sleeping. Conrad confided in his parents that he had racing thoughts & felt he was losing his memory so they took him to doctors & psychiatrists to help him & began taking the antidepressant Celexa. His mom said, “if my kids are happy, I’m happy” & that watching Conrad struggle destroyed her soul. His dad, through tears, said that it was so sad to watch him go through this, struggling with who to sit with at school, getting picked on by some kids. In October of 2012 Conrad was hospitalized after a serious suicide attempt. He attempted suicide at least four times. As time went on, moving into 2014, Conrad’s family felt he was getting better, he graduated from high school with a 3.88 GPAl & college with a scholarship was on the horizon.
Michelle Carter was from Plainville, MA, a small town of 8,000 people. She was described as a good student, polite & respected by adults. In her small town she was known as sweet & caring; always trying to be helpful to other people. People could not wrap their heads around this girl being responsible for the texts she sent to Conrad.
June 13, 2014, Conrad made a video about how overwhelming his social anxiety was. Talking about taking steps to control it & be more proactive in a social environment, contributing more during social situations, trying to be more confident. He said despite being 18, he felt his life was controlled by social anxiety & depression. He said that his parents were great & loved him, but he was still depressed, feeling like something was wired wrong with him. He felt talking about it made it better.
On July 12, 2014, Carter spent the day with his mom Lynn & two sisters at the beach. Afterward, he took his sisters for ice cream. He headed out around 6pm that evening & told his mom he was going to see a friend. She asked if he’d be home for dinner & he said he didn’t think so. These would be the last words she ever spoke to her son. That evening, Michelle had randomly texted Conrad’s sister Camdyn saying that she & Conrad were officially boyfriend & girlfriend & also asked if she knew where Conrad was. At 10:30 or 11pm that night Lynn texted Conrad, asking when he’d be home but got no response. She tried him again in the middle of the night but again, no response.
The next day, on July 13, 2014 18 year old Conrad Roy was reported as a missing person to the Fairhaven Police. When he failed to come home, Lynn knew something was wrong since it wasn’t like him to stay out without calling. She said she felt a rush go through her body, as if Conrad passed through her; something she’s never felt before.
Conrad drove a black Ford pickup truck; it was found that afternoon at the Fairhaven K Mart. Conrad was dead in his truck from acute carbon monoxide intoxication by suicide, his phone was sitting right next to him. He had turned on a gas powered water pump in the back seat, causing carbon monoxide to fill his truck. His family was absolutely devastated. His mom, Lynn said she wished she would have picked up more signs & seen more that week & that day, saying had she known just how bad he was doing, she would have handcuffed him to her car & brought him to a hospital. She couldn’t understand what happened. Just the day before, they had a great time at the beach; Lynn said he was in a good frame of mind & sat eating tortilla chips & guacamole on their way to the beach.
That night Michelle text Lynn, “I am so very sorry. Conrad meant so much to me..” She also texted Conrad’s sister Camdyn, “Hey love, please talk to me if you need to. I want to do everything I can to help you & your family thru this very difficult time. Is there any way I can come over tomorrow? I’m so very sorry. Conrad meant so much to me and was loved by so many.” Lynn told Michelle that she was so glad Conrad had someone like her in his life. Michelle said, “you tried your hardest, I tried my hardest, everyone tried their hardest to save him.” When Lynn read this, she was confused by Michelle saying that she tried to save him. She had no idea he was feeling as bad as he was.
When Conrad’s family told Michelle that Conrad had been cremated & planned to spread half of his ashes in the ocean at their grandparent’s house, Michelle asked if she could have some of his ashes which the family found odd.
At the funeral, Conrad’s close friend said that Michelle sat up close, near the family area; she said she seemed like a grieving widow, constantly sobbing & making a scene.
Conrad had left a journal filled with suicide notes to his family; in it, he also left the passwords to his laptop & iPhone. When the phone was powered up, detectives went to the messages & it was open to a message thread between Conrad & Michelle Carter. On 7/12 at 5:17pm a text from Michelle read, “Did you delete the text messages?” Police would extract more than 1000 deleted text messages between Conrad & Michelle; they quickly discovered how disturbing these text messages were & the DA’s office was contacted.
Michelle: Are you gonna do it now?
Carter: I just don’t know how to leave them ya know
Michelle: Say you’re going to the store or something. You’re overthinking.
Carter: I know I’m overthinking. I’ve been overthinking for a while now.
Michelle: I know, you just have to do it like you said. Are you gonna do it now
Detectives Scott Gordon & Glenn Cudmore headed to Wrentham, MA to interview Michelle at her high school. Michelle admitted she had been talking to Carter, saying that the phone hung up but she thought nothing of it. Detectives got a search warrant for Michelle’s phone & told her that they would be taking it from her. The contents of the phone were extracted by the MA State Police; 60,000 items were downloaded & included pictures, text messages, voice messages, call logs, chats through FB. Detectives sifted through everything; each reading about a thousand text messages. It also showed that Conrad & Michelle spoke on the phone they night he committed suicide; at 6:28pm Conrad called Michelle & they spoke for 43 minutes. At 7:12pm Michelle called Conrad & they spoke another 47 minutes.
After sifting through the text messages the detectives quickly concluded that had it not been for Michelle & her encouragement, Conrad would likely still be alive today. This was now a criminal case & a grand jury returned an indictment for involuntary manslaughter on February 5, 2015. Michelle was booked and released on bail the following day.
Family & friends were absolutely shocked, angered & disgusted by the revelation of these texts.
Further text between Conrad & Michelle:
Michelle: Drink bleach. Why don’t you just drink bleach. Hang yourself, jump off a building, stab yourself idk there’s a lot of ways.
Michelle’s attorney, Joseph Cataldo felt that she committed no crime; there’s no law in MA (and 10 other states) that criminalizes encouragement of suicide, saying she was 40 miles away from Conrad & that he could have stayed out of his truck & hung up the phone. “There’s no coercion here.” He argued that Conrad was determined to take his own life & his death was a suicide, not a homocide.
June 5, 2017 the trial began; Michelle was 20 years old at the time. She waived her right to a jury trial, leaving it to Judge Lawrence Moniz to determine her guilt or innocence. The first witness called to the stand was Lynn, Conrad’s mom.
Girls from Michelle’s school came forward in trial & said that Michelle often complained that she felt she had no friends. They themselves said they saw her in school but never hung out with her outside of school. Between July 10-11, days before Conrad committed suicide, Michelle started texting these girls, lying that Conrad was missing, saying that it’s her fault if he did anything, “I wasn’t there to save him”, During this time, she was also texting Conrad. “Are you gonna go buy it?” (Referring to the machine that would cause the carbon monoxide poisoning). Conrad said, “I think so.” She responded, “okay, when?”
July 12, 2014 at 8:02pm Michelle text Sam, a girl from school, saying that Conrad called her & there was a loud noise like a motor, “I heard moaning like someone was in pain and he wouldn’t answer when I said his name. I stayed on the phone for like 20 mins & that’s all I heard. I think he just killed himself.”
On 7/12/14 at 9:24pm Michelle was texting a friend saying that Conrad called her & she heard muffled sounds & some type of motor running & it was like that for 20 minutes & he wouldn’t answer. “I think he killed himself.” I heard moaning sounds like he was in pain & I tried calling back & he hasn’t answered or anything. He told me that day that he got a generator for work but on the phone I heard a motor running which I think was the generator. I just looked it up online & they said it’s dangerous & fatal . You can die within 20 minutes.” On 7/13 at 7:04pm, she texted this same friend, “He’s dead, he commited suicide.” On 7/20 she text this friend, “That night when he actually did it I was talking to him on the phone when he killed himself. I heard him die.”
The next day, Michelle asked this girl if she could hang out to get her mind off things. After he died, Michelle frequently posted about Conrad to FB & girls from school began to come to her house & see her for support & comfort.
Michelle also put together a tournament called Homers for Conrad in Conrad’s honor to raise money for mental health awareness. Conrad’s best friends, Tom & Aryanna were confused as to why Michelle was hosting it in her hometown of Plainville vs. Mattapoisett where Conrad’s family & friends live. They tried to have it moved but Michelle refused. Through texts she also made it very clear that she wanted credit for hosting this event. During the event, Tom said that Michelle seemed very happy, loving the attention as the grieving girlfriend.
As the story & trial went on, Michelle became known as an evil person who pushed her boyfriend to suicide in order to become popular. She was very desperate & needy around her other girls at school, sending very long, drawn out texts. Michelle had a history of bulimia, self harm & was taking antidepressants. She tried hanging herself at one point in March of 2014, texting a girl from school, saying she had chickened out.
June 29, 2014: 2 weeks before Conrad’s death
Conrad text Michelle: There’s nothing anyone can do for me that’s gonna make me wanna live. It’s very bad to hear , but I want to let you know that, truthfully. We should be like Romeo & Juliet in the end.
Michelle: Haha I’d love to be your Juliet
Conrad: But do you know what happens at the end
Michelle: OH YEAH FUCK NO! WE ARE NOT DYING
The mental hospital would help you. I know you don’t think it would but I’m telling you. If you give them a chance, they can save your life.
Conrad: It doesn’t help. Trust me.
Michelle: Part of me wants you to try something and fail just so you can go get help
Conrad: the only way id hate you is if you told people about this. U hear me?
Michelle: I’m not gonna tell anyone.
Conrad: My mom just saw my laptop
Michelle: What’s on your laptop? Did your mom see??
Conrad: The page said suicide methods on the front and she looked right at it. She definitely saw it and read it and she just ignored it. She definitely read it. She knows what i’m going through and maybe she will understand.
Michelle: Yeah maybe she is accepting it. That’s really good right?
Conrad: I hope so. I really hope I can do this.
Michelle: If you’re gonna do a last tweet can it be about me? “Love his how you stay alive even after you are gone.”
Defense Dr Peter Breggin said that Michelle switched gears on July 2 & began to encourage Conrad to commit suicide because of involuntary intoxication from her antidepressant Celexa. Another psychiatrist argues that this makes no sense at all, saying SSRIs are remarkably safe & don’t make you delusional or psychotic or intoxicated. He felt the problem was the texts saying that texting separates you & makes you feel less responsible & keeps you away from the human contact.
Michelle: Jesus will take care of you babe, you’ll be happy and protected in heaven. I just want you to finally be happy, so so happy. Heaven needs a hero. BUY TYLENOL. GET BENADRYL! THAT MAKES YOU FALL ASLEEP FAST. If you take all the pills in those boxes, and fall asleep with a bag taped TIGHTLY to your head so no air can get in, you’ll definitely die babe. Conrad of course I will be there for your family. I will help them as much as I can to get thru this. When are you gonna do it. Stop ignoring the question???
July 3, 2014: 9 days before Conrad’s death
Conrad: Good night. See you in the next life.
Michelle: Conrad? Conrad answer me please. I fell asleep, I’m so sorry. This isn’t funny answer me right now. I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you please come back. This is not happening, you’re my best friend, you’re my boyfriend. I love you so much, please don’t leave me.
July 5, 2014
The following texts were sent on July 5th 2014 between 8.36am and 2.16pm. This was eight days before Conrad Roy died.
Conrad: hi
Michelle: Hi
Conrad: what’s up 🙂
Michelle: Just woke up you? Why do you seem happy haha
Conrad: Because tonight’s the night.
Michelle: You said that last night and the night before
Conrad: Haha I know but it has to be tonight. I’ll be all alone
Conrad: mom and Brian are sleeping over friends house in Rhode Island
Michelle: So yeah tonight seems like the perfect night
Michelle: Like you have all night to try different things
Conrad: yes lol
Michelle: Do you think tonight really is the night you’re gonna do it?
Conrad: I think
Michelle: Theres a difference between saying “I’m gonna try to commit suicide” and “I am going to commit suicide”.
Conrad: well I’m gonna try
Michelle: So you don’t want it bad enough. You already know you’re gonna fail because a part of you wants to fail
Michelle: Just saying
Conrad: ya
Michelle: Ya what?
Conrad: it’s just hard Michelle
Michelle: I know it is
Conrad Roy didn’t take his life that day, but he would eight days later.
In the days before Conrad Roy took his life, the following messages were also exchanged between him and Michelle:
Michelle: I think your parents know you’re in a really bad place. I’m not saying they want you to do it but I honestly feel like they can accept it.
They know there is nothing they can do. They’ve tried helping. Everyone’s tried, but there is a point that comes where there isn’t anything anyone can do to save you, not even yourself.
And you’ve hit that point and I think your parents know you’ve hit that point.
You said your mom saw a suicide thing on your computer and she didn’t say anything. I think she knows it’s on your mind and she’s prepared for it.
Everyone will be sad for a while but they will get over it and move on. They won’t be in a depression. I won’t let that happen. They know how sad you are, and they know that you are doing this to be happy and I think they will understand and accept it. They will always carry you in their hearts.
Conrad: Aww. Thank you, Michelle.
Michelle: They will move on for you because they know that’s what you would have wanted. They know you wouldn’t want them to be sad and depressed and be angry and guilty. They know you want them to live their lives and be happy. So they will for you. You’re right. You need to stop thinking about this and just do it because over turning always kills, over thinking.
Conrad: Yeah, it does. I’ve been thinking about it for too long.
Michelle: Always smile, and, yeah, you just have to do it. You have everything you need. There is no way you can fail. Tonight is the night. It’s now or never.
§
Michelle: If you don’t think about it, you won’t think about failing. You’ll just do it and then thinking you’ll succeed.
Conrad: Right. That’s what I’m talking about. I read so much about failed attempts gone wrong that it’s gotten me discouraged.
Michelle: Yeah, exactly, so stop doing that. There is more success than there are failures.
Conrad: Are you kidding me?
Michelle: You have to look at it that way and people only fail because they have the same mindset as you. Thinking they’ll fail.
Conrad: I really want to believe you.
Michelle: Why don’t you.
Michelle: You can’t think about it. You just have to do it. You said you were gonna do it. Like I don’t get why you aren’t.
Conrad: I don’t get it either. I don’t know.
Michelle: So I guess you aren’t gonna do it then. All that for nothing. I’m just confused. Like you were so ready and determined.
Conrad: I am gonna eventually. I really don’t know what I’m waiting for but I have everything lined up.
§
Michelle: Well… I guess just because you always say you are gonna do it but you don’t, but last night I know you really wanted to do it and I’m not mad. Well, I mean, kind of, I guess, just because you always say you’re gonna do it… but you don’t but last night I knew you really wanted to and I’m not mad.
…
Michelle: You’re not joking about this or bullshitting me, right? … I just want to make sure you’re being serious. Like I know you are, but I don’t know. You always say you’re gonna do it, but you never do. I just want to make sure tonight is the real thing.
§
Michelle: Don’t do it in the driveway. You will be easily found. … Find a spot.
Conrad: I don’t know. I’m thinking a public place. If I go somewhere private they may call cops.
Michelle: Well, then someone will notice you.
…
Michelle: Do you think you will get caught? I mean, it only takes 30 minutes; right?
…
Michelle: Just park your car and sit there and it will take, like, 20 minutes. It’s not a big deal.
These are the texts Carter and Roy sent the day he took his life on July 13, 2014:
Michelle: Conrad!
Michelle: Hey you there?
Conrad: hey sorry I fell asleep
M: Its okay, Why haven’t you done it yet tho?
C: I’m too messed up to
M: What are you talking about
C: my head
M: You can’t think about it You just have to do it? You said you were gonna do it like I don’t get why you arent
C: I don’t get it either. idk
M: So I guess you aren’t gonna do it then, all that for nothing
M: I’m just confused like you were so ready and determined
C: I am gonna eventfully
C: I really don’t know what I’m waiting for.. but I have everything lined up
M: No you’re not Conrad. Last night was it. You keep pushing it off and you say you’ll do it but u never do. Its always gonna be that way if u don’t take action
M: You’re just making it harder on yourself by pushing it off, you just have to do it
M: Do u wanna do it now?
C: Is it too late ?
C: Idkk it’s already light outside
C: I’m gonna go back to sleep, love you I’ll text you tomorrow
M: No? Its probably the best time now because everyone’s sleeping. Just go somewhere in your truck. And no one’s really out right now because it’s an awkward time
M: If u don’t do it now you’re never gonna do it
M: And u can say you’ll do it tomorrow but you probably won’t
M: Tonight*
M: Love you
C: thank you 🙂
M: For what
M: Are u awake
C: yes
M: Are you gonna do it today
C: Yesss
M: Like in the day time
C: should I?
M: Yeah. Its less suspicious, you won’t think about it as much, and you’ll get it over with instead of waiting until the night
C: Yeah then I will. like where
C: like I could go in any enclosed area
M: Go in your truck and drive in a sparkling lot somewhere, to a park or something
M: Do it now like early
C: didn’t we say this was suspicious
M: No I think night is more suspicious. A kid sitting in his car just turn on the radio and do it. It won’t be suspicious, and it won’t take long
C: alright I’m taking holly for a walk
M: Okay
C: idk why I’m like this
M: Sometimes things happen and we never have the answers why
C: like why am I so hesitant lately
C: like 2 weeks ago I was willing to try everything. and now I’m worse really bad and I’m lol not Falling through. it’s eating me inside.
M: You’re so hesistant because you keep overthinking it and pushing it off. You just need to do it Conrad. The more you push it off, the more it will eat at you.
M: You’re ready and prepared. All you have to do is turn the generator on and you bee free and happy. No more pushing it off, no more waiting
C: youre right
M: If you want it as bad as you say you do, its time to do it today
C: Yup no more waiting
M: Okay, I’m serious. Like you can’t even wait til tonight. You have to do it when u get back from your walk
C: Thank you.
M: For what
C: still bring here
C: being
M: I would never leave you, you’re the love of my life, my boyfriend. You’re my heart, I’d never leave you
C: Awww 🙂
M: 🙂 I love you
C: love you tooo 😀
M: When will u be back from your walk?
C: like 5 minutes
M: Okay so are you gonna do it?
C: I guess
M: Well I want you to be ready and sure
C: 😛
M: What’s that mean haha
C: Idk I’m freaking out again
C: I’m overthinking
M: I thought you wanted to do this. The time is right and you’re ready, you just need to do it! You can’t keep living this way. You just need to do it like you did last time and not think about it and just do it babe. You can’t keep doing this everyday
C: I do want to. but like I’m freaking out for my family. I guess
C: idkkk
M: Conrad. I told you I’ll take care of them. Everyone will take care of them to make sure they won’t be alone and people will help them get thru it. We talked about this, they will be okay and accept it. People who commit suicide don’t think this much and they just do it
C: I know I know lol. thinking just drives me more crazy
M: Exactly. You just need to do it Conrad or I’m gonna get you help
M: You can’t keep doing this everyday
C: Okay I’m gonna do it today
M: Do you promise
C: I promise babe
C: I have to now
M: Like right now?
C: where do I go? 🙁
M: And u can’t a break a promise. And just go in a quiet parking lot or something
C: Okay
M: Go somewhere you know you wont get caught. You can find a place I know u can
M: Are u doing it now?
C: still have no clue
M: Not finding a place to go isn’t an excuse…
C: I know where to go
M: Where
C: a park and ride
M: Ride?
C: that’s what it’s called it’s like a parking lot
M: Ohhhh okay gotcha. Are you going now?
C: either that or go to the beach
M: Why would u go to the beach?
C: well that’s where My moms going
M: I thought u were just gonna do it
C: my moms making me go
C: When I get home I’m gonna do it
M: Okay promise? I’m going kayaking anyways
C: Haha you love kayaking
M: Yup 🙂 s0something I wish we coulda done 🙁
C: Make sure you take your son kayaking 🙂
M: Haha of course I will 🙂
C: goood what’s uppp
M: Kayaking haha
C: still?
M: Yup but I’m done now
C: I love you. so much
M: I love you forever
C: I’m in the worst pain right now. like it’s unbearable
M: I think it’s time to do it now then
M: Do you agree
M: Conrad
M: Please answer me
C: I’m still at the beach
M: Oh okay sorry
M: Let me know when you’re leaving
C: Okay
…
3:40pm
C: I’m determined
M: I’m happy to hear that
C: I’m ready
M: Good because it’s time babe, you know that
M: When you get back from the beach, you gotta d do it. You’re ready, you’re determined. Its the best time
C: Okay I will
M: Are you back?
C: no more thinking
M: Yes, no more thinking you need to just do it. No more waiting
C: on way back
C: I know where to go now
M: Where??
C: a parking lot. there’s gonna be no cars there at 9 so that’s when I’ll be found
M: Okay perfect
M: When will u be home
C: 10 minutes
C: Haha that’s perfect ?
M: Okay and well yeah idk
C: Like I don’t wanna kill anyone else with me
M: You won’t?
C: when they open the door ?
C: they won’t know it’s odorless and colorless
M: You’re overturning….They will see the genertor and realize you breathed in CO
C: so should I keep it in the back seat?
C: or front
M: In front. You could write on a piece of paper and tape it on saying “carbon monoxide” or something if you’re scared
C: I was thinkin that. but someone might see it
C: before it actually happens
M: Well wait the generator is gonna be on because you’ll be passed out so they’ll know you used carbon posioning
M: Dead*
C: Its not loud is it?
M: Not really lmao
C: Okay good
M: Are you gonna do it now?
C: I’m home.
M: Okay
C: Ahhh
M: What?
C: Idkk I’m stressin
M: You’re fine, it’s gonna be okay. You just gotta do it babe, you can’t think about it
C: okay. okay I got this
M: Yes you do, I believe in you. Did you delete the messages?
C: Yes but ur gonna keep messaging me?
M: I will until you turn on the generator
C: Okay well I’m bringing my sisters for ice cream.
M: So will you do it when u get back?
C: yup I’ll go right there
M: Okay
C: love you
M: I love you so much
C: :)))
M: <33
C: Haha what are you doin?
M: Nothing really just resting
C: Okay haha I’m procrastinating
M: Yeah haha I know…are you back?
C: Yuppp
M: So it’s time.
C: Oh it’s been time
M: Are you gonna do it now?
C: i just don’t know how to leave them ya know
M: Say you’re going to the store or something
C: Like I want them to know I love them
M: They know, that’s one thing they definitely know
M: You’re overthinking
C: I know I’m overthinking, I’ve been overthinking for awhile how
M: I know, you just have to do it like you said
M: Are you gonna do it now
C: I haven’t left yet haha
M: Why…
6:20pm
C: leavin now
M: Okay. You can do this
C: okay I’m almost there
M: Okay
9:19pm
M: Please answer me
M: I’m scared are you okay? I love you please answer
10:38pm
M: You’re at your dad’s…Camdyn told me. I’ll get you help soon I guess
M: I thought you actually did it
After Conrad’s death, Michelle continued to text his phone, sending more than 80 messages. On the morning after Conrad killed himself, she wrote, “Did you do something??! Conrad I love you so much please tell me this is a joke.” Two days later she said, “I love you so much.” “Sweet dreams, babe I know you’re up there, smiling down on me. I’ll always smile back. I love you forever.” On July 21, 2014 she text “I read this thing online about trying to agree with the person and that would make them change their mind because they see how stupid they’re being. But it didn’t work for you and I did it for too long,” “You probably thought I was okay with it and You talked about being in heaven and being my angel and at the time I went along with it because i knew you weren’t gonna do anything. But you [expletive] did it and I’m so sorry I didn’t save you,”
Text from Michelle to Sam 9/15/14
Michelle: Sam his death is my fault like honestly I could have stopped him. I was on the phone with him and he got out of the car because it was working and he got scared and I fucking told him to get back in Sam. I should of tried harder like I should of did more and its all my fault because I could of stopped him but I fucking didn’t. All I had to say was I love you, don’t do this one more time and he’d still be here. I can’t get that phone call out of my head. Like I still call him and hope that he’ll pick up.
A lot of texts that Michelle sent to friends & to Conrad were lines verbatim from the show Glee as well as words said during interviews by the actors themselves. Michelle text “you were my first love, and I wanted more than anything for you to be my last.” She was obsessed with the actress Lea Michelle from Glee whose co-star/real life boyfriend, Corey Montieth was found July, 13 2013 in his hotel room, dead from an OD. Another line verbatim; character Rachel says: I had it all planned out. Will: Did you tell him? Rachel: I didn’t have to. He knew. Michelle texted a friend after Conrad died, “ I had it all planned out.. He knew too. I didn’t have to tell him.” Character Rachel uses the phrase, “he was my person.” Michelle uses the same line about Conrad.
Judge Moniz deliberated for two days; on June 16, 2017 he reached a verdict. Michelle Carter was found guilty of manslaughter. Judge Moniz focused on Michelle’s command to Conrad to “get back in the truck.” He felt that her “virtual presence” overwhelmed Conrad’s willpower and “but for the defendant’s admonishments, pressure & instructions, the victim would not have gotten back into the truck and poisoned himself to death.” Michelle, knowing that Conrad was dying, did not call the police or his family to intervene. Laurie Levensen, a professor at Loyola Marymount University Law School argues that legally, “we don’t have a broad responsibility to save people in the U.S. There’s no Good Samaritan law.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of MA protested saying that this decision violated free speech protections & could have a poor effect on end-of-life discussions.
August 3, 2017: Sentencing of Michelle Carter for her conviction of involuntary manslaughter. She ended up serving 12 months of a 15 month sentence, released early from Bristol County Women’s Center in January 2020 for good behavior & will serve 5 years probation.
In 2019 Conrad’s Law was introduced into MA legislature; it makes coerced suicide by someone who knows a person’s suicidal tendencies & encourages them to take their own life a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
In 2017 the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reported that nearly 5000 people between ages 14-24 would be lost to suicide & 600,000 would end up in the ER after a suicide attempt. Adolescents are more prone to depression & anxiety & more susceptible to peer pressure.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts/ideation, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (US) 1-800-273-8255 or visit http://afsp.org for resources.
Sources:
- HBO Documentary: I Love you, Now Die
- The Tab: The Messages Michelle Carter sent to her boyfriend before he died
- Women’s Health: Michelle Carter’s Texts to Conrad Roy the Day He Committed Suicide Are Devastating
- A&E True Crime Blog: Stories & News. The Death of Conrad Roy: Michelle Carter’s ‘Virtual Presence’ & ‘Failure to Act’ in Texting Case
- People: Michelle Carter Texted Conrad Roy 80 Times After His Suicide: ‘I’m So Sorry I Didn’t Save You’
- Boston 25 News: ‘I heard him die’: The messages that convicted Michelle Carter
- CBS News: Death by Text: The Case Against Michelle Carter
