If the name Michelle Carter doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps the “Texting Suicide Case” or “The Girl From Plainville” will spark your memory. The 2019 HBO documentary I Love You, Now Die first delved into the trial of then-20-year-old Carter, who in 2017 was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the 2014 death-by-suicide of Conrad Roy after she encouraged him to get back into his truck, rigged for him to inhale copious amounts of carbon monoxide, rather than telling him to stay outside of it or call for help. Investigation Discovery followed up with a 2021 special titled Michelle Carter: Love, Texts & Death, and now Hulu’s stepping up to the plate with their upcoming miniseries The Girl From Plainville, starring Elle Fanning.
But where is Michelle Carter today? To prepare for the release, find out where Michelle Carter is now, and what to expect from Hulu’s new show.
What happened to Michelle Carter?
Michelle Carter was sentenced to two and a half years in the Bristol County House of Correction in Massachusetts for her “failure to act” to prevent Conrad Roy’s death. 15 months were to be served, with the rest suspended, followed by probation for five years. In 2019, she was denied parole, as reported by ABC News.
She served 12 months of her sentence.
Carter was released from her 15-month prison sentence three months early, in January of 2020, for good behavior, according to NBC Boston. She was 23 at the time. A representative for the Sheriff’s Office said the following in a statement: “Ms. Carter has been a model inmate in Bristol County… She has attended programs, had a job inside the jail, has been polite to our staff and volunteers, has gotten along with other inmates, and we’ve had no discipline issues with her whatsoever.” She is now on her third year of probation.
Today she remains out of the public eye.
Carter, now 24 years old, was last seen being driven away from the jail by her attorney, Joseph Cataldo, and then later at the Taunton District Court, where it’s assumed she met with her probation officers.
According to Cosmo, it’s unlikely Carter has left the country due to her parole, and their search for social media accounts linked to the woman has turned up no clear connections – meaning, no, you can’t stalk her on Instagram.
Perhaps she’s hiding away with her parents – who declined to participate in the HBO documentary – who are also locals of Plainsville, MA. David was a sales manager at a forklift supplier, while Gail was a real estate stager. It’s unclear whether they still are in their respective jobs, as they haven’t been reported on in several years. As of 2019, they’ve reportedly stood up for Carter several times, including requesting leniency from the judge, so it wouldn’t be surprising if she returned to their home after release.
According to NBC News, the conditions of Carter’s release state that she can’t profit off of the crime, meaning she won’t be making any daytime television appearances anytime soon and may have a difficult time sourcing income.
The “Texting Suicide Case” is getting a fresh retelling.
Hulu’s The Girl From Plainville was announced via Twitter earlier this month, based on the Esquire expose of the same name. We don’t know much yet, but IMDB indicates that there will be eight episodes.
Elle Fanning not only stars as Michelle Carter – an eery, uncanny resemblance post hair and makeup – but as an executive producer. Co-showrunner Patrick Macmanus told Entertainment Weekly that Fanning is determined to tell this story in a sensitive manner. “She did not want this to feel sensational,” he said. “She wanted it to be an honest portrayal of not just these families and what they went through, but from what people are going through in general on a day-to-day basis when it comes to their mental health.”
EW reports that The Girl From Plainville will premiere sometime this spring.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. You can also reach out to the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386, or to your local suicide crisis center.