Michelle Carter seeks early release from prison in texting-suicide case

Michelle Carter on Thursday sought early release from her jail sentence in a texting-suicide case at a parole hearing in Massachusetts.

The Plainville woman was found guilty of using text messages to encourage her then-boyfriend, Conrad Roy III, to take his own life in 2014. He was found dead in his truck in a Fairhaven parking lot.

She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter two years ago and sentenced to serve a 15-month sentence, which she began in February.

Carter, 22, appeared in person before the state Parole Board in Natick. No decision was announced following the closed-door hearing, and it's unclear when a determination will be made.

There's no deadline for a decision, which is typically made in writing and won't require another appearance by Carter, according to Felix Browne, a spokesman for the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, which oversees the parole board.

Carter, her lawyer, and members of Roy's family did not comment after the hearing.

Carter's attorneys argued her texts were constitutionally protected free speech. The state Supreme Judicial Court, however, disagreed, upholding her conviction in February.

The lawyers appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court has yet to decide whether to hear the appeal.

The case was profiled on "Dateline NBC" and in an HBO documentary.

Lawmakers in Massachusetts have proposed "Conrad's Law," which would make convincing or manipulating someone into committing suicide a crime punishable by up to five years in jail.

A wrongful death suit filed by the Roy family against Carter was also dismissed with prejudice in April after being resolved privately.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.