Did teen accused of urging boyfriend's suicide violate bail conditions?
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - Prosecutors are investigating whether a Massachusetts teenager accused of encouraging her boyfriend to kill himself has violated her bail conditions by using social media.
Michelle Carter of Plainville is charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly sending 18-year-old Conrad Roy III dozens of text messages urging him to take his own life last year.
When she was released on bail, one of the conditions was that she not use social media except for school purposes.
Prosecutors on Thursday told a judge they found a Twitter account that looks similar to the 18-year-old Carter's old Twitter page. They asked to question Carter under oath, but the judge said prosecutors should get more information and return to court if they determine it is Carter's page.
Carter's lawyer said it is not his client's page.
Roy, of Mattapoisett, died of carbon monoxide poisoning in his pickup truck in a parking lot in Fairhaven in July 2014.
Carter is being tried as a youthful offender and had pleaded not guilty. Her lawyer, Joseph Cataldo, has filed a motion asking the judge to drop the charge against Carter, arguing she is being punished for her speech.
Prosecutors maintain speech can be the basis of criminal charges and say Carter repeatedly urged Roy to commit suicide and sent berating text messages to him when he was having second thoughts.
A police report obtained by 48 Hours' Crimesider alleges that prior to Roy's death, Carter repeatedly questioned him as to why he hadn't killed himself yet.
The report further alleges that when Roy "actually started to carry out the act, he got scared again and exited his truck but instead of telling him to stay out of the truck and turn off the generator, Carter told him to 'get back in.'"
Police documents indicate authorities believe Carter was putting together "a plan to get sympathy." They also allege that after Roy's death, Carter organized a softball tournament to raise money for mental health awareness in honor of Roy and posted several messages on social media about suicide prevention and how much she missed him.
Cataldo has argued his client initially discouraged Roy from committing suicide and even tried to get him help -- but was ultimately "brainwashed" into assisting him to take his own life.
The judge has not yet ruled on the motion to dismiss the case.