‘Suicide-text’ girlfriend Michelle Carter is denied early release

Michelle Carter, who urged her depressed boyfriend via text message to kill himself, has been denied early release despite being a ‘model prisoner’.

Michelle Carter, the Massachusetts woman convicted of urging her boyfriend via text messages to kill himself, has been denied her request for early release by the state Parole Board, according to the New York Post.

“The [board] is troubled that Ms Carter not only encouraged [Conrad Roy III] to take his own life, she actively prevented others from intervening in his suicide,” the board wrote in its decision.

Michelle Carter was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to prison for encouraging 18-year-old Conrad Roy, III to kill himself in July 2014. Picture: AP Photo

“Ms Carter’s self-serving statements and behaviour, leading up to and after his suicide, appear to be irrational and lacked sincerity,” it said, adding that she needs to address the “causative effects” that led to the offence.

Michelle Carter, centre, is escorted to a parole hearing. She wants her 15-month sentence reduced. Picture: AP Photo/Steven Senne

“Release does not meet the legal standard,” the board said about the Plainville woman, who was convicted in 2017 of involuntary manslaughter and is serving a 15-month sentence for the 18-year-old man’s death in 2014.

Roy died after filling his pick-up truck with poisonous fumes. When he had second thoughts, Carter texted him to “get back in” the vehicle.

MORE NEWS

Victoria Roberts Giuffre details ‘sex with Prince Andrew’

Trump welcomes ScoMo to White House

Conrad Roy III killed himself after being encouraged by girlfriend Michelle Carter via text. She is appealing her 15-month sentence. Picture: Supplied

Lawyers for the 22-year old woman, who began her sentence in February, have argued that her texts were constitutionally protected free speech.

The lawyers, who appealed her conviction to the US Supreme Court, declined to comment.

A lawyer for Roy’s family didn’t respond to an email from the Associated Press.

Despite the setback, Carter will still get out of jail at least two months early because she is a “model” prisoner, officials said.

Michelle Carter has been a “model prisoner”, according to officials. Picture: Supplied

Carter has been working in the jail kitchen and attending classes and programs; each month she does so, she earns another 10 days off her sentence, officials said, and is on track to be sprung in mid-March, rather than her originally set release in mid-May.

Her case was the subject of the HBO documentary I Love You, Now Die.

This story first appeared in the New York Post and is republished with permission.

Originally published as ‘Suicide-text’ girlfriend Michelle Carter is denied early release