Video - Texting Tragedy: The Michelle Carter Case

On July 13, 2014, 18-year-old Conrad Roy III was discovered dead in his truck, a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. Initially seen as a tragic suicide, the case took a shocking twist when police uncovered messages on his phone from his girlfriend, 17-year-old Michelle Carter. She had repeatedly urged him to take his own life, even telling him to "get back in" when he hesitated and stepped out of the truck. Her texts became the crux of a landmark legal case, leading to her conviction for involuntary manslaughter. This unprecedented trial ignited a national debate over whether words alone can hold someone legally accountable for another's suicide. Michelle Carter ultimately served 11 months in prison and was released in 2020.