Video - Words That Kill: The Michelle Carter Case

In July 2014, 18-year-old Conrad Roy III was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in his truck. What initially appeared to be a suicide took a sinister twist upon investigation of his phone. His girlfriend, Michelle Carter, had sent him numerous messages encouraging his suicide. When Roy hesitated and exited the vehicle, Carter texted, "Get back in," and he complied. This led to a groundbreaking legal case where Michelle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter based solely on her text messages. The case ignited a national debate on whether words alone can hold someone accountable for another's suicide. Michelle served 11 months in prison and was released in 2020.