What Is Michelle Carter Doing Today?
The following article contains mention of suicide.
The body of 18-year-old Conrad Roy was discovered by authorities on July 13, 2014 in his pickup truck outside of a store in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. NBC Boston reports that Roy took his life by intentionally attaching a hose from a portable generator to fill his car with carbon monoxide.
In an April "20/20" special (via MassLive), Roy's aunt, Kim Bozzi, opened up about the tragedy. "To see my whole family crumble, it just didn't seem real. I was so upset at him for what he did to his mom and sisters," she said. Lynn Roy, the victim's mother, opened up to Dr. Oz about the tragedy in 2017 (via Boston 25 News). "He was always helping others," she said. "He cared more about others than himself." This tragic suicide shocked the town, and it was not long before investigators realized Roy's girlfriend, Michelle Carter, was involved.
The case against Carter has been widely discussed for almost a decade. The case and its investigation relied heavily on text messages and video evidence that gave investigators and jurors the information that they needed to ultimately reach a guilty verdict. Carter's controversial involvement has been the subject of several documentary pieces, and was even dramatized in Hulu's "The Girl From Plainville." So what has happened to Carter since she was found guilty?
How was Michelle Carter involved?
Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy first met in 2012 while on vacation with their families, and they originally bonded over their struggles with mental health, according to Oxygen. While the two only met in person five times, they kept in constant communication via phone calls, emails, and text messages.
Prior to his death, Roy attempted suicide four times, according to The Cinemaholic. Carter originally discouraged her boyfriend from committing suicide and even proposed he seek professional help during the first two years of their relationship. However, something changed in 2014, as NBC Boston reports that Carter began repeatedly encouraging and convincing Roy to take his life. "The time is right and you are ready ... just do it babe," she allegedly wrote to him. She also allegedly insisted he "get back in" to the carbon monoxide-filled truck after he had second thoughts.
According to NBC News, Carter was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 15 months in prison and five years probation after pleading not guilty in 2017. Carter began serving her sentence in February 2019.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Michelle Carter is living a low-key life
According to NBC Boston, Michelle Carter was released from Bristol County jail in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on January 23, 2020. Officials revealed that she served 12 months of her 15-month sentence and was released early on good behavior. The Bristol County Sheriff even called her "a model inmate." She started her jail time in February 2019 and was sentenced to five years probation, which will end on August 1. Until then, she cannot profit from her story or part in the case.
Since her release from prison, Carter has stayed out of the public eye and has maintained a low profile. The New York Post reported that she was spotted for the first time since her release doing yard work on April 7. During an ABC News "20/20" special released the next day, her lawyer Joseph Cataldo explained that she is "remorseful over the situation" and has "come to grips with it." Cataldo also previously told People that Carter "very much regrets" her actions. She has not spoken publicly about the case since her sentencing, but both HBO released a documentary about the case, and Hulu released "The Girl From Plainville" starring Elle Fanning. Carter does not have any known social media profiles and will likely remain in the United States until her probation ends.