Roy struggled with depression and in July of 2014 became suicidal. He reached out to Michelle Carter, who instead of offering support, urged him to kill himself. Roy had filled his truck with carbon monoxide, but then had second thoughts and exited the vehicle - it's at this point that he called Carter, who persuaded him to get back into the truck via text:
"I thought you wanted to do this. The time is right and you're ready - just do it babe. You're finally going to be happy in heaven. No more pain. It's okay to be scared and it's normal. I mean, you're about to die."
Using this message, and other like it, Carter was convicted in 2017 by a juvenile court which determined that she had caused Roy's death as he had already exited the truck and went back into it at her urging.
Carter's defense has long been, basically, that words alone do not kill and Roy made his own choice to end his life.
Prosecutors have asked that Carter begin serving her 15 month sentence now that her appeal has failed, however her lawyers now plane to launch another appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
Thoughts?