Where is Michelle Carter today? The real story behind 'The Girl From Plainville'

Where is Michelle Carter today? Elle Fanning's uncanny portrayal of the young adult is causing us to revisit a heartbreaking true story.  

The Girl from Plainville, Hulu's latest release, focuses on the real-life romance between two teens: Carter (played by Fanning) and Conrad Roy III (played by Colton Ryan). Though young love is supposed to feel euphoric, this union ultimately ends in tragedy, and things will never be the same for the now 24-year-old woman. 

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Carter and Roy, both of whom lived in Massachusetts, met while on vacation in Florida in 2012. Though a romantic relationship blossomed between them, most of their communication was conducted via email and text messages.

Those texts backfired for Carter and put the world in a state of shock. Roy, who had struggled with depression and anxiety, contemplated suicide, and Carter seemingly encouraged him to do so through her exchanges. 

"You're ready and prepared. All you have to do is turn the generator on and you be free and happy. No more pushing it off, no more waiting," one message read. 

Another even provided tips: "Why don't you just drink bleach?" 

When Roy actually went through with his plan in 2014, Carter was in disbelief. Then, she was charged with involuntary manslaughter. 

Where is Michelle Carter today?

No, Michelle Carter is not in jail, as many suspect. 

At her trial, she was officially sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, though she ultimately served only 15 months beginning February 2019, as she had been released early on good behavior. Typically, those who are found guilty of involuntary manslaughter receive a maximum 20-year sentence. 

According to reporters at Esquire—who took a deep dive into the case in 2017—her parole will come to an end on August 1, 2022. 

Conrad Roy family: where are they now?

The grief-stricken parents, Lynn St. Dennis and Conrad Roy II, decided to take action upon their son's untimely death. They worked alongside professionals and proposed a bill called Conrad's Law, which would make Massachusetts the 43rd state to criminalize suicide coercion.

"I don't want another family to deal with what I had to deal with," Roy's mother Lynn told People ahead of the Hulu series. "I wanted to make a point that his life mattered, and that was the most important thing to me."

Roy's parents have yet to watch The Girl from Plainville and do not intend to relive the story, as St. Dennis is allegedly concerned about the series focusing more on Carter than her son. 

Hulu isn't the first company to highlight these heartbreaking events. In 2018, Lifetime released a telefilm titled: Conrad & Michelle: If Words Could Kill. One year later, HBO released a documentary, I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter. 

Upon further investigation, Esquire revealed that Carter is not allowed to profit from any of these projects. However, things will change when her parole ends in August 2022.