‘I LOVE YOU, NOW DIE'

As a TV adaptation of the infamous text suicide case airs this month, Woman’s Own looks at the true story behind the drama

- BESS BROWNING, LIANNE LA BORDE

When an 18-year-old was found dead in his car after an apparent suicide, it sent shock waves around the area. But this wasn’t an unprovoked suicide. In July 2014, Conrad Roy III drove his truck to a deserted supermarket car park and gassed himself to death after his girlfriend Michelle Carter had bombarded him with hundreds of texts pushing him to end his life.

What followed was an extraordinary court battle to determine whether Carter was responsible. Now, a brand-new TV drama, The Girl from Plainville, will tell the story of Carter and Conrad Roy’s relationship, his death and the text messages that led to Carter’s arrest.

But what really happened?

Before his death, Conrad Roy III, played by Colton Ryan in the upcoming show, was struggling. Aged 18, he had anxiety and depression, and had even attempted suicide. But when he met Michelle Carter, 17, on a family holiday to Florida in 2012, she seemed to be a kindred spirit. Michelle struggled with her body image and also took medication for anxiety and depression.

In The Girl from Plainville, American actress Elle Fanning, who starred in Maleficent and The Great, bears an uncanny resemblance to Carter.

Conrad and Michelle lived just 35 miles apart in Plainville, Massachusetts. But they mostly kept in touch via text and on Facebook Messenger. As the bond between them grew, Conrad decided to confide in Michelle that he was considering self-harm, and even suicide, to end his mental anguish.

A CHILLING TURN

Michelle was sympathetic, urging Conrad to seek help and begging him not to self-harm. ‘I hate myself, I’ll always hate myself,’ he wrote.