I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter

Crime

Station:
HBO (US)

Status:
Ended

Start:
2019-07-09

Rating:
0/10 from 0 users

In July 2014, 18-year-old Conrad Roy died by suicide in his car at a parking lot in Fairhaven, Mass. Police soon discovered a series of alarming text messages from his girlfriend, 17-year-old Michelle Carter, that seemed to encourage him to kill himself. This discovery sparked sensational headlines nationwide, leading to a trial that raised difficult questions about technology, social media and mental health, while asking if one person can be held responsible for the suicide of another.I Love You, Now Die explores the complicated relationship between Carter and Roy, drawing on some of the thousands of texts they exchanged over two years to chronicle their courtship and its tragic consequences. Featuring unprecedented access to the families, friends and communities that were forever changed by this unusual case, the documentary explores the changing nature of the justice system today, following a story that has wider implications for society at large, both online and in real life. The film presents a well-rounded look at a bizarre tale that was a deadly convergence of mental illness, loneliness, pop culture and technology.

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List of episodes

S1E1 - The Prosecution

In 2012, teens Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy fell in love; even though they lived hours apart and met in person no more than five times, they exchanged thousands of texts over a two-year period. Then on July 13, 2014, 18-year-old Conrad was found dead in his car in a parking lot. What appeared to be a standard case of suicide by carbon-monoxide intoxication took a shocking turn when investigators discovered alarming text messages in which Michelle, 17, relentlessly encouraged Conrad to kill himself, even after Conrad had second thoughts and removed himself from his car. Michelle was arrested for involuntary manslaughter, sparking a controversial case that grabbed national attention. Though the Roy family admits Conrad suffered from depression, they maintain that he was doing well before his death and lay the blame solely in Michelle's hands. As the trial begins in June 2017, with Michelle waiving her right to a jury, the prosecution paints a picture of Michelle as a lonely and needy girl who orchestrated her boyfriend's death to get attention from a group of girls at her school.

Air Date: 09 Jul 2019 19:00 (CDT)

S1E2 - The Defense

In an attempt to prove that she was not solely responsible for boyfriend Conrad Roy's suicide, Michelle Carter's legal team begins their defense by focusing on Conrad's relationship with his parents. They next call to the stand clinical psychiatrist Dr. Peter Breggin as an expert witness to speak to Michelle's own mental-health issues and her prescribed medications that may have influenced her perception of reality. A deeper dive into texts between the teenagers reveals a more complicated relationship than meets the eye; the defense argues that Michelle took Conrad's lead when encouraging his suicide and looked to pop culture for inspiration in building up a fantasy around her troubled romance. As the surrounding community remains split on whether Michelle is a murderer or a victim, the judge reaches a verdict in a complex case that could have significant legal consequences.

Air Date: 10 Jul 2019 19:00 (CDT)