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Michelle Carter Texted Boyfriend 1,000 Times Before His Suicide
Source: Michelle Carter/Facebook; Source: Conrad Roy/Facebook
Although Roy had struggled with depression and been prescribed antidepressants, the investigation took a turn when police learned of a series of texts — eventually more than 1,000 — exchanged withMichelle Carter, then 17, in the week prior to his death. Carter, who described herself as Roy’s girlfriend, appeared to be encouraging him to carry out his suicide, according to prosecutors, who later filed acharge of involuntary manslaughter against her.
02of 18Prosecutor: Carter Was Playing a ‘Sick Game of Life and Death’Faith Ninivaggi/The Boston Herald via APIn her opening statement during Carter’s 2017 trial,Assistant District Attorney Maryclare Flynnsaid Carter, who was 20 at the time of her trial, wanted sympathy and attention from other girls at school, yearning to be the “grieving girlfriend” who couldn’t stop her boyfriend from committing suicide,WPRI reported.“The defendant needed something to get their attention,” Flynn said. “She used Conrad as a pawn in her sick game of life and death.“Flynn also alleged that Carter tried to pretend to the Roy family that she didn’t know the manner and location of Roy’s death – despite texts from her that allegedly indicated otherwise.“She never admitted to anyone in the Roy family that she had helped Conrad for weeks to devise a suicide plan, or that she was on the phone with Conrad and knew he committed suicide in the Kmart parking lot,” Flynn said.
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Prosecutor: Carter Was Playing a ‘Sick Game of Life and Death’
Faith Ninivaggi/The Boston Herald via AP
In her opening statement during Carter’s 2017 trial,Assistant District Attorney Maryclare Flynnsaid Carter, who was 20 at the time of her trial, wanted sympathy and attention from other girls at school, yearning to be the “grieving girlfriend” who couldn’t stop her boyfriend from committing suicide,WPRI reported.
“The defendant needed something to get their attention,” Flynn said. “She used Conrad as a pawn in her sick game of life and death.”
Flynn also alleged that Carter tried to pretend to the Roy family that she didn’t know the manner and location of Roy’s death – despite texts from her that allegedly indicated otherwise.
“She never admitted to anyone in the Roy family that she had helped Conrad for weeks to devise a suicide plan, or that she was on the phone with Conrad and knew he committed suicide in the Kmart parking lot,” Flynn said.
03of 18Conrad Roy’s Mother: ‘I Thought He Was Doing Great’Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via APDuring Carter trial, Conrad’s mother, Lynn, recalled their last day together on July 12, 2014, when she joined him and his sisters for a day at Horseneck Beach in Westport, Massachusetts.Conrad had attempted an overdose in 2012 after leaving a treatment program for his depression. But he’d just been accepted to Fitchburg State University and planned to study business after his recent high school graduation.“I thought he was a little depressed,” she testified, but she added, “I thought he was doing great,“MassLive.com reported.When he did not return home that night, she said she called police and later informed them about texts she received from Michelle Carter.
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Conrad Roy’s Mother: ‘I Thought He Was Doing Great’
Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP
During Carter trial, Conrad’s mother, Lynn, recalled their last day together on July 12, 2014, when she joined him and his sisters for a day at Horseneck Beach in Westport, Massachusetts.
Conrad had attempted an overdose in 2012 after leaving a treatment program for his depression. But he’d just been accepted to Fitchburg State University and planned to study business after his recent high school graduation.
“I thought he was a little depressed,” she testified, but she added, “I thought he was doing great,“MassLive.com reported.
When he did not return home that night, she said she called police and later informed them about texts she received from Michelle Carter.
04of 18Carter’s Text to Friend: ‘His Death Is My Fault’Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via APCarter’s friend Samantha Boardmanread aloud in courtfrom texts Cater sent her that seemed to indicate she was remorseful.“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 [expletive] told him to get back in,” Carter allegedly texted to Boardman,reported theBoston Herald.“I knew he would do it all over the next day and I couldn’t have him live the way he was living anymore,” Carter allegedly wrote to Boardman. “I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t let him.““I should have did more and it’s all my fault because I could of stopped him but I [expletive] didn’t,” Carter allegedly texted to Boardman on Sept. 15, 2014,reported MassLive.com.
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Carter’s Text to Friend: ‘His Death Is My Fault’
Carter’s friend Samantha Boardmanread aloud in courtfrom texts Cater sent her that seemed to indicate she was remorseful.
“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 [expletive] told him to get back in,” Carter allegedly texted to Boardman,reported theBoston Herald.
“I knew he would do it all over the next day and I couldn’t have him live the way he was living anymore,” Carter allegedly wrote to Boardman. “I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t let him.”
“I should have did more and it’s all my fault because I could of stopped him but I [expletive] didn’t,” Carter allegedly texted to Boardman on Sept. 15, 2014,reported MassLive.com.
05of 18’I Heard Him Die,’ Carter TextedPat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via APProsecutors also called two friends of Carter’s who received texts from her about Roy’s suicide.“I was talking to him on the phone when he killed himself,” Carter allegedly texted Olivia Mosolgo, who played on a softball team with Carter. “Liv, I heard him die. I just wish I got him more help.“To another friend, Alexandra Ethier, whom Carter knew from working at a summer camp, Carter allegedly texted: “Yeah and I was on the phone talking to him when he killed himself. I’m heard him dying.”
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‘I Heard Him Die,’ Carter Texted
Prosecutors also called two friends of Carter’s who received texts from her about Roy’s suicide.
“I was talking to him on the phone when he killed himself,” Carter allegedly texted Olivia Mosolgo, who played on a softball team with Carter. “Liv, I heard him die. I just wish I got him more help.”
To another friend, Alexandra Ethier, whom Carter knew from working at a summer camp, Carter allegedly texted: “Yeah and I was on the phone talking to him when he killed himself. I’m heard him dying.”
06of 18Carter’s Lawyer: ‘She Tried to Talk Him Out of It’Mark Stockwell/The Sun Chronicle via APBefore the case went to trial, Carter’s defense attorney Joseph P. Cataldoargued that the texts are protected speechand they “did not contain anything remotely resembling a threat” worthy of a criminal charge, according to his court filing. He said Roy’s decision to kill himself was Roy’s alone.Cataldo told PEOPLE: “A lot of what has been reported thus far is that Michelle Carter always wanted to endorse Conrad Roy’s plan to kill himself. But it will be abundantly clear that for weeks prior to agreeing to his plan, she tried to talk him out of it, and he tried to get her to commit suicide with him.““We’re dealing with a 17-year-old impressionable female who was not equipped to deal with Conrad Roy’s suicide plans,” Cataldo said, “and sadly he carried through on his plan.”
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Carter’s Lawyer: ‘She Tried to Talk Him Out of It’
Mark Stockwell/The Sun Chronicle via AP
Before the case went to trial, Carter’s defense attorney Joseph P. Cataldoargued that the texts are protected speechand they “did not contain anything remotely resembling a threat” worthy of a criminal charge, according to his court filing. He said Roy’s decision to kill himself was Roy’s alone.
Cataldo told PEOPLE: “A lot of what has been reported thus far is that Michelle Carter always wanted to endorse Conrad Roy’s plan to kill himself. But it will be abundantly clear that for weeks prior to agreeing to his plan, she tried to talk him out of it, and he tried to get her to commit suicide with him.”
“We’re dealing with a 17-year-old impressionable female who was not equipped to deal with Conrad Roy’s suicide plans,” Cataldo said, “and sadly he carried through on his plan.”
07of 18Psychiatrist: Meds Impaired Carter’s JudgmentFaith Ninivaggi/The Boston Herald via APDuring Carter’s trial, Dr. Peter Breggin spoke about the effects of Celexa, a medication that treats depression and anxiety, which Carter was prescribed not long before Roy’s death.According to theBoston Globe, the psychiatrist said Celexa can inhibit impulse control. Breggin added that drugs like Celexa “disrupt the frontal lobe function” and that “the young brain is more susceptible to harm” from such drugs.
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Psychiatrist: Meds Impaired Carter’s Judgment
During Carter’s trial, Dr. Peter Breggin spoke about the effects of Celexa, a medication that treats depression and anxiety, which Carter was prescribed not long before Roy’s death.
According to theBoston Globe, the psychiatrist said Celexa can inhibit impulse control. Breggin added that drugs like Celexa “disrupt the frontal lobe function” and that “the young brain is more susceptible to harm” from such drugs.
08of 18Carter Sent Roy Dozens of Texts After His DeathThe Boston Globereported that Carter sent more than 80 text messages to Roy’s phone after his death. In one, she apologized for not doing enough to stop him from taking his own life. She also expressed her enduring love for him, the paper reports.“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,” she wrote.“But you [expletive] did it and I’m so sorry I didn’t save you,” Carter wrote.
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Carter Sent Roy Dozens of Texts After His Death
The Boston Globereported that Carter sent more than 80 text messages to Roy’s phone after his death. In one, she apologized for not doing enough to stop him from taking his own life. She also expressed her enduring love for him, the paper reports.
“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,” she wrote.
“But you [expletive] did it and I’m so sorry I didn’t save you,” Carter wrote.
09of 18June 17, 2017: Carter Convicted of Involuntary ManslaughterGlenn C.Silva/Fairhaven Neighborhood News/PoolOn June 17, 2017, Carter was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Roy’s death. She cried at the defense table as Judge Lawrence Moniz addressed her.“Carter’s actions and also her failure to act where she had a self-created duty to Mr. Roy, since she had put him in that toxic environment, constituted each and all wanton and reckless conduct,” Moniz said.“She [instructed] Mr. Roy to get back into the truck, well-knowing of all of the feelings that he [had] exchanged with her: his ambiguities, his fears, his concerns,” Moniz added.
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June 17, 2017: Carter Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter
Glenn C.Silva/Fairhaven Neighborhood News/Pool
On June 17, 2017, Carter was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Roy’s death. She cried at the defense table as Judge Lawrence Moniz addressed her.
“Carter’s actions and also her failure to act where she had a self-created duty to Mr. Roy, since she had put him in that toxic environment, constituted each and all wanton and reckless conduct,” Moniz said.
“She [instructed] Mr. Roy to get back into the truck, well-knowing of all of the feelings that he [had] exchanged with her: his ambiguities, his fears, his concerns,” Moniz added.
10of 18Judge Convicted Carter Because of Roy’s Final MomentsPat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via APIn handing down his guilty verdict, Moniz focused on what Carter did right before Roy killed himself, when he called her from outside his pickup truck as he wavered about what to do.She told him to get back into his vehicle — “which she has reason to know is or is becoming a toxic environment inconsistent with human life,” Moniz said, narrating her actions in the present tense.“She did nothing. She did not call the police or Mr. Roy’s family,” he said of Carter. “Finally, she did not issue a simple additional instruction [to Roy]: ‘Get out of the truck.’ "
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Judge Convicted Carter Because of Roy’s Final Moments
In handing down his guilty verdict, Moniz focused on what Carter did right before Roy killed himself, when he called her from outside his pickup truck as he wavered about what to do.
She told him to get back into his vehicle — “which she has reason to know is or is becoming a toxic environment inconsistent with human life,” Moniz said, narrating her actions in the present tense.
“She did nothing. She did not call the police or Mr. Roy’s family,” he said of Carter. “Finally, she did not issue a simple additional instruction [to Roy]: ‘Get out of the truck.’ "
11of 18Carter Gets 15 Months in Jail, Started Sentence in Feb. 2019.Matt West/The Boston Herald/APMoniz sentenced Carter to two-and-a-half years, but all but 15 months of that sentence was suspended. However, Monizagreed to stay her jail sentenceuntil her appeal was resolved.In February, after her appeal was rejected,Carter began serving her sentence.
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Carter Gets 15 Months in Jail, Started Sentence in Feb. 2019.
Matt West/The Boston Herald/AP
Moniz sentenced Carter to two-and-a-half years, but all but 15 months of that sentence was suspended. However, Monizagreed to stay her jail sentenceuntil her appeal was resolved.
In February, after her appeal was rejected,Carter began serving her sentence.
12of 18Roy’s Father: ‘How Could Michelle Carter Behave So Viscously?‘John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via GettyDuring sentencing, members of Roy’s family addressed the court. Roy’s father called the late teen his best friend, saying, “Michelle Carter exploited my son’s weaknesses and used him as a pawn.““How could Michelle Carter behave so viciously and encourage my son to end his life? Where was her humanity?” he added.In a statement read in court prior to sentencing, Roy’s mother, Lynn Roy wrote, “There is not one day that I do not mourn the loss of my beloved son.”
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Roy’s Father: ‘How Could Michelle Carter Behave So Viscously?’
John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty
During sentencing, members of Roy’s family addressed the court. Roy’s father called the late teen his best friend, saying, “Michelle Carter exploited my son’s weaknesses and used him as a pawn.”
“How could Michelle Carter behave so viciously and encourage my son to end his life? Where was her humanity?” he added.
In a statement read in court prior to sentencing, Roy’s mother, Lynn Roy wrote, “There is not one day that I do not mourn the loss of my beloved son.”
13of 18Carter’s Appeal: Texts Were ‘Cherry-Picked’Charles Krupa/APIn her appeal filed in 2018, Carter’s attorneys argued that the texts prosecutors presented were “cherry-picked” to make her look bad.The appeal reiterated an argument the defense had previously made: that Carter’s text showing compassion for Roy were never presented, including one in which she encouraged him to get professional help.
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Carter’s Appeal: Texts Were ‘Cherry-Picked’
Charles Krupa/AP
In her appeal filed in 2018, Carter’s attorneys argued that the texts prosecutors presented were “cherry-picked” to make her look bad.
The appeal reiterated an argument the defense had previously made: that Carter’s text showing compassion for Roy were never presented, including one in which she encouraged him to get professional help.
14of 18Texts Were Protected Free Speech, Appeal ArguedFaith Ninivaggi/The Boston Herald/APCarter’s appeal stated that her “words encouraging Roy’s suicide, however distasteful to this Court, were protected speech.“The appeal reignitedthe debateabout whether someone could legally be found guilty of a crime if they weren’t on the scene.The appeal argued that if Carter’s conviction was allowed to stand, “Massachusetts would be the only state to uphold an involuntary manslaughter conviction where an absent defendant, with words alone, encouraged another person to commit suicide,” her attorneys wrote.After the appeal was rejected, Carter was ordered to begin serving her sentence in February 2019.
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Texts Were Protected Free Speech, Appeal Argued
Faith Ninivaggi/The Boston Herald/AP
Carter’s appeal stated that her “words encouraging Roy’s suicide, however distasteful to this Court, were protected speech.”
The appeal reignitedthe debateabout whether someone could legally be found guilty of a crime if they weren’t on the scene.
The appeal argued that if Carter’s conviction was allowed to stand, “Massachusetts would be the only state to uphold an involuntary manslaughter conviction where an absent defendant, with words alone, encouraged another person to commit suicide,” her attorneys wrote.
After the appeal was rejected, Carter was ordered to begin serving her sentence in February 2019.
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Carter Released Early After Serving 11 Months in Jail
Michelle Carter leaving jail.Steven Senne/AP/Shutterstock
Days before her release, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Carter’s appeal, after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court had previously upheld her conviction.
She was to remain on probation until August 2022.
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Conrad’s Mother Launches Push to Make Suicide Coercion a Crime
The bill, bearing the title Conrad’s Law, stalled during the COVID pandemic but was back before lawmakers in early 2022.
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The Controversial Case Lives On in Popular Media
Michelle Carter, Elle Fanning.FAITH NINIVAGGI/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty; Steve Dietl/Hulu
Carter has not spoken about the case since her release. “There will come a time for Michelle to speak publicly but now is not that time,” her attorney Joseph P. Cataldo told PEOPLE in March 2022.
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Conrad Roy’s Parents Speaks Out
Eight year’s after their son’s suicide, Conrad Roy’s parentsspoke to PEOPLE.
During the interview, Roy’s mother, Lynn Roy, shared her thoughts onThe Girl From Plainvilleseries. Lynn hadn’t seen the series but was concerned about its focus on Michelle over her son and worries “there may be an attempt to defend some of her needless and evil actions.”
However, she did hope that the new attention on the case would help push forward Conrad’s Law.
“I don’t want another family to deal with what I had to deal with,” Lynn told PEOPLE.
source: people.com
