Tell Someone To ‘Kill Themselves” And You Could End Up In Jail

How “Kill Yourself” Texts Resulted in a Death and a Conviction

Through thousands of text messages between Carter and Roy from 2012 to 2014, Michelle Carter attempted to discourage his death by suicide but eventually urged Conrad to complete the act and then neglected to notify anyone after he ended his life. Ms. Carter’s behavior was a crime and ended in the death of her then-boyfriend, Conrad Roy.

Michelle Carter’s conduct was morally reprehensible. Some states criminalize the act of convincing people to commit suicide. In July 2014, eighteen-year-old Conrad Roy died of carbon monoxide poisoning after locking himself in his truck. He did this because of the texts Michelle Carter sent him telling him to ‘kill himself.’ 

Carter admitted in texts that she took no action; she knew the location of the truck and did not notify Roy’s family or emergency services. According to testimony, on July 12, 2014, the day of Roy’s suicide, Carter texted a classmate:

“He just called me and there was a loud noise like a motor … I heard moaning … I stayed on the phone for like 20 minutes and that’s all I heard. … I think he just killed himself.” In another text to a fellow student, she texted “I could’ve stopped him.” “He got out of the car … he was scared.”

Several of Michelle Carter’s classmates testified that Carter didn’t have many friends and pushed Roy to suicide to get more attention. Prosecutors say that Roy was on the phone with Carter for 47 minutes while in his truck. There came a point where he told her he was getting out of the truck because he feared the suicide attempt was working. Carter texted that she “told him to get back in.” Just days before, in another text message, Carter wrote “don’t be scared… You’re finally to be happy in heaven,” according to prosecutors.

Michelle could have urged him to talk to his parents, go to an emergency room or contact a suicide prevention hotline.

Michelle Carter was charged as a youthful offender, which means that even though she was a minor at the time of the incident, she was charged as an adult. The maximum possible sentence was 20 years. She ended up receiving a 15 month sentence which she was released from in January of 2020 after serving 11 months.

This tragic story should serve as a wake-up call for kids and teens who tell others to kill themselves. Not only is it a horrible thing to do, but when kids on the receiving end hear this command, some actually go through with it … just like Roy did.

Clearly anyone who tells someone to do this needs help, but so does the victim who obeys the command. It’s tragic all the way around. Both of these young people needed help. Youths should consider that by telling someone to ‘kill themselves’ that they can be arrested and face jail time. They should think about how very mean and cruel this is, not to mention extremely wrong!

If someone tells you to "kill yourself" do not listen to them!
Why would you listen to someone who is so cruel?

If you feel suicidal, don’t give in to your thoughts. You can feel bad for a few days and things can seem different in a few days. Seek help. Never, ever listen to someone who tells you to take your life. As NY Jets Quarterback Bryce Petty recently told students, “You are beautifully and perfectly made.”

We all have bumps in the road which cause us pain, but consider that you have your entire future ahead of you. By obeying someone who tells you to die, you will never be able to fulfill your dreams and goals.