Mass. Supreme Court upholds conviction in texting suicide case

February 6, 2019 8:49 pm

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — The Massachusetts Supreme Court upheld Michelle Carter’s involuntary manslaughter conviction Wednesday.

The immediate impact for Carter is simple: the Bristol County District Attorney’s office is actively working to send her to jail to start serving her sentence.

She is sentenced to stay behind bars for up to two and a half years for her role in the suicide of Conrad Roy back in 2014.

The court said the ruling was made because “the evidence against the defendant proved that by her wanton or reckless conduct, she cause the victim’s death by suicide.”

Her defense attorney Ken Schreiber said the high-profile case has opened what he called “a Pandora’s Box” due to the Carter being convicted through her text messages.

Carter’s sentence had been put on hold during her appeal but now that’s over and the Bristol County District Attorney is filing a motion to get her sent to prison.

Carter’s attorney’s, however, said they may not be done fighting.

The next step could be the U.S. Supreme Court.

“That would be fascinating if that would happen. But it’s a case that really has so many issues in it, that it’s a worthwhile case for the supreme court to consider,” said Schreiber.

The D.A.’s office said they will file their motion in the next few days.