How Much Time Did Michelle Carter Get in Prison?

Update, 1/23: Michelle Carter is expected to leave prison today, Jan. 23, 2020. She's been incarcerated since February of last year, and was meant to be serving a 15-month status. Less than 12 months later, however, Carter is being released early due to good behavior, just a week after the Supreme Court declined to hear her appeal of her conviction. Said a spokesperson (opens in new tab) for the sheriff's office: "Ms. Carter has been a model inmate here at the Bristol County House of Corrections. She has participated in a variety of programs, held a job inside the jail, has been polite to our staff and volunteers, has gotten along with the other inmates, and we've had no discipline issues with her whatsoever."

Original post: HBO's new two-part true crime documentary (opens in new tab), I Love You, Now Die, directed by Erin Lee Carr, aims to shed light on the tragic relationship between Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy III. In 2017, Carter was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for her role in his death; in 2019, she began serving her 15-month sentence.

Carter was 15 when she met Roy. The two Massachusetts high schoolers were both on family vacations in Florida when their paths crossed in February 2012. And when they parted, Carter and Roy maintained a primarily texting relationship, even though they lived only a few towns apart.

CONTENT WARNING: The below story contains a description of a case involving death by suicide. This content may be triggering for some readers.

Initially, the messages were typical of high school teens. They shared their favorite songs, asked about each other's day and sent smiley faces about inside jokes. But soon enough, Roy began expressing thoughts of suicide to Carter.

After countless texts shared and ideas expressed, many of which involved how Roy would carry out his plan commit suicide, Roy died by suicide. During the ensuing investigation, all eyes turned to Carter, thanks to excerpts from conversations like these between the pair:

Carter was indicted for involuntary manslaughter in February 2015, just seven months after Roy committed suicide. On June 2017, she was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to two and a half years in jail which was reduced to 15 months. However, Carter's lawyer managed to maintain Michelle's freedom for the past two years while working to have her case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to NBC (opens in new tab).

Earlier this year, the courts decided they'd given Carter enough free time. In February, the Massachusetts Supreme Court rejected her defense attorney's motion to delay her 15-month sentence. Carter was taken to Bristol County Jail and House of Correction in Dartmouth, Massachusetts to begin serving her jail time immediately.

If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States at 1-800-273-8255.