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![handle is hein.journals/rgsusty2019 and id is 1 raw text is:
SUICIDE ENCOURAGEMENT: A HOMICIDE
OFFENSE BASED ON THE DOCTRINE OF
UNDUE INFLUENCE
Anthony G. LoBrace*
I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 101
II. CURRENT JUDICIAL AND LEGISLATIVE APPROACHES.......................... 103
III. A USEFUL COMPARISON..................................................................... 106
IV. UNDUE INFLUENCE: A NEW CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK................... 108
IV. CONCLUSION.................................................................................. 112
I. INTRODUCTION
Conrad Roy, an eighteen-year old high school student from
Massachusetts, tried on several occasions to kill himself.1 After each
suicide attempt, Roy reached out to someone that he trusted for help.2
Michelle Carter, one such confidante, was a friend who Roy met while
one vacation. The relationship later became romantic even though their
interactions were almost exclusively confined to electronic
communication.3 Roy confided in Carter that he had struggled with
mental illness and that he was contemplating another suicide attempt.4
Unfortunately for Roy, his trust in Carter was misplaced. Instead of
offering emotional support, Carter actively encouraged Roy to kill himself
* Faculty Advisor: Professor Reid K. Weisbord. Senior Notes & Comments Editor: Erin
Hodgson
1. Jesse Barron, The Girl From Plainville, ESQUIRE (Aug. 23, 2017),
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a57125/michelle-carter-trial/; Commonwealth v.
Carter, 115 N.E.3d 559, 562 (Mass. 2019).
2. See Carter, 115 N.E.3d at 562.
3. Id.; Barron, supra note 1.
4. Text Messages between Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy (June 1, 2014-Sept. 21,
2014) https://htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/files/carter-exhibit-30-1497356322.pdf
[hereinafter Carter-Roy Texts], at June 21, 2014, 11:48-11:50 AM; July 1, 2014, 10:56 PM.
Carter described Roy as suicidal and [having] severe depression and social anxiety, who
she was responsible for keeping alive basically. Text Messages between Michelle Carter
and Samantha Boardman, June 22, 2014, 8:51 PM, https://htv-prod-
media.s3.amazonaws.com/files/sam-boardman-1497289698.pdf [hereinafter Carter-
Boardman Texts].
101](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.journals/rgsusty2019&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)