State Parole Board Denies Early Release for Michelle Carter

Michelle Carter, the woman convicted of convincing her boyfriend through text messages to commit suicide, has been denied early release by the Massachusetts Parole Board.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Carter, now 23-years-old, was denied parole Friday morning in her 15-month jail sentence. Carter was sentenced back in February and is still scheduled for release in May of 2020.

Prosecutors say she sent text messages to Conrad Roy III, of Mattapoisett, to take his own life in July of 2014.

The Board issued a statement on the decision, calling her actions before, during and after Conrad Roy III’s suicide “irrational” and ‘lacking sincerity.’ Another board member said Carter “did not provide sufficient insight into reason for or lack of empathy at time of crime and surrounding time period.”

The statement issued by the Parole Board, and signed off by General Counsel Pamela Murphy, is written as follows:

“Decision of the Board: Deny. The [Board] is troubled that Ms. Carter not only encouraged Mr. Conrad to take his own life, she actively prevented others from intervening in his suicide. Ms. Carter’s self-serving statements and behavior, leading up to and after his suicide, appear to be irrational and lacked sincerity. Ms. Carter needs to further address her causative factors that led to the governing offense. Release does not meet the legal standard.

Board Member 1: [Concur]

Board Member 2: Concur. Given subject’s behavior in facilitating victim’s death, release not compatible w[ith] best interest of society. Did not provide sufficient insight into reason for or lack of empathy at time of crime and surrounding time period. “

Carter began her 15-month sentence in February at the Bristol County House of Corrections in Dartmouth. Carter was moved out of the Dartmouth prison in late-July to an undisclosed facility, but still in the custody of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.