Video - Words That Kill: The Conrad Roy Case

In July 2014, 18-year-old Conrad Roy III tragically died by suicide, but the discovery of text messages on his phone turned his death into a landmark legal case. His girlfriend, 17-year-old Michelle Carter, had sent numerous messages urging him to go through with the act. When Conrad stepped out of his truck, filled with carbon monoxide, Michelle instructed him to "get back in," and he complied. This case raised profound questions about the responsibility one bears through words alone. Michelle was charged with involuntary manslaughter and served 11 months in prison, sparking a national debate about the power of digital communication and its potential to cause harm. She was released in 2020.