Teen’s Suicide Brings on Involuntary Manslaughter Charges

A disturbing and heart wrenching story made headlines last week involving a Massachusetts teen’s suicide. Eighteen year old Conrad Roy II, died by suicide in July. In a strange twist, his girlfriend is now being charged with involuntary manslaughter.

In a series of over 1,000 text messages between Roy and girlfriend Michelle Carter,18, Roy opened up about his struggles with depression, and even told Carter  that he wanted to die, but was afraid and didn’t want to hurt his family. Throughout these messages, Carter urged him numerous times to kill himself.

“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,” Gregg Miliote, director of communications for the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, said in a statement (KMOV.com).

Carter even asked Roy to let her know when he was planning to do it, and stayed in contact with him during his suicide. Reports even suggest that at one point, Roy changed his mind, and exited the car that authorities later found his body in.
Texts show that she responded to his change of heart by telling him to, “Get back in the car,” (CNN.com).

As a foundation that makes suicide prevention one of our top priorities, this story is particularly disturbing. We spend countless hours educating people about the warning signs, how to respond to a suicide threat, and provide the community with resources.

This story is an extreme example of someone struggling with a mental illness being taken advantage of. However, some people with mental illness are taken advantage of everyday. It is our responsibility as a community to serve as advocates, and provide these individuals with resources, and support.

Resources:
http://www.kmov.com/news/crime/Massachusetts-police-Teens-texts-encouraged-friend-to-commit-suicide-294661181.html
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/01/us/suicide-text-case/index.html

About Jill Sauser, The Kim Foundation Project Coordinator

Jill graduated with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Speech Communication from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2009. During her time at UNO, she completed a two year PR practicum program where she worked with numerous nonprofit clients including the MS Society, The Archdiocese of Omaha, The Omaha Food Bank and YWCA. Jill joined The Kim Foundation as Project Coordinator in April 2014.