NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Michelle Carter, 18, of Plainville, was indicted as a youthful offender on February 5th on a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
The charge is connected to the July 13, 2014 death of Conrad Roy, 18, of Fairhaven and Mattapoisett.
On that date, Fairhaven police were notified by his family that he was missing. On this same date Fairhaven Police Officers located Roy in his parked motor vehicle behind K-Mart at 9 Plaza Way, Fairhaven.
Roy was located inside the vehicle and determined to be deceased. The physical evidence led officers to believe that Roy was the victim of suicide by means of carbon monoxide poisoning.
A subsequent search of Roy’s cell phone led to a joint investigation by Fairhaven Police and State Police Detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office.
Based on the totality of the investigation, it is alleged that Ms. Carter had first hand knowledge of Roy’s suicidal thoughts. Instead of attempting to assist him or notify his family or school officials, Ms. Carter is alleged to have strongly influenced his decision to take his own life, encouraged him to commit suicide and guided him in his engagement of activities which led to his death.
Carter wrote: “You just have to do it,” “Tonight is the night,” and “It’s painless and quick.”
When Roy expressed hesitancy about killing himself, Carter allegedly texted, “You always say you’re gonna do it, but you never do. I just want to make sure tonight is the real thing.”
I think your parents know you’re in a really bad place. I’m not saying they want you to do it but I honestly feel like they can accept it,” she allegedly texted.
From People: Carter helped Rod devise a plan to commit suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. “You lose consciousness with no pain. You just fall asleep and die,” she allegedly texted.
In the texts, Carter allegedly calls Roy “the love of my life, my boyfriend. You are my heart. I’d never leave you.”
When Roy texts that he’s ready to go through with the plan to kill himself, Carter texts, “Good because it’s time, babe. You know that. When you get back from the beach you’ve gotta go do it. You’re ready. You’re determined. It’s the best time to do it.”
Afterward, she allegedly texted another friend, “His death is is my fault . Like, I honestly could have stopped it. I was the one on the phone with him and he got out of the car because [the carbon monoxide] was working and I [expletive] told him to get back in.”
Carter was arraigned on the indictment on February 6th in New Bedford Juvenile Court. Juvenile Court Judge Siobhan E. Foley set bail in the amount of $2,500 cash.
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