Attorneys for former BC student indicted in boyfriend’s suicide to file motion for case to be dismissed

BOSTON — The woman at the center of the most recent texting suicide case in Massachusetts appeared in court on Thursday for a hearing where her attorneys are planning on filing a motion to dismiss the case.

Inyoung You, 21, is accused in her boyfriend’s suicide after a series of text messages allegedly show she encouraged 22-year-old Alexander Urtula to kill himself. On the morning of May 20, 2019, Urtula jumped from a parking garage to his death, just hours before he was set to walk at his graduation.

On Oct. 29, You was indicted on involuntary manslaughter in Urtula’s death. You, who was born in South Korea and is a naturalized U.S. citizen, was also ordered to surrender her passport and remain in Massachusetts.

Detectives say they determined that You was physically, verbally and psychologically abusive toward Urtula during their 18-month relationship. Authorities say the abuse became more frequent, more powerful, and more demeaning in the days and hours leading up to Urtula’s death.

A series of text messages illustrate the abusive and toxic nature of You and Urtula’s relationship, prosecutors said. The couple exchanged more than 75,000 texts in the last two months of their turbulent, 18-month relationship, with You sending the majority of them.

Prosecutors say You isolated Urtula from his friends, urged him multiple times to “go kill yourself” and called him “worthless” in a constant barrage of messages.

On her hearing on Feb. 20, You’s attorneys argued the DA is treating the case as though it was the same as Michelle Carter’s case. The defense say they feel there are major differenced between both cases, one major point being that You begged Urtula not to hurt himself, while Carter encouraged Conrad Roy III through text messages and even gave him ideas on how to commit suicide.

“As soon as Ms. You knew her boyfriend was in trouble, she begged him repeatedly not to hurt himself told him that she loved him, immediately tried to get to the scene,” said Howard Cooper, You’s defense attorney.

Both cases have stark similarities, where both girlfriends were accused of urging their boyfriends to end their lives. Carter, of course, was convicted and recently released from jail.

>> All the texts between Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy the day he died

You, who took a leave of absence from Boston College, is accused of involuntary manslaughter. Suffolk County DA Rachel Rollins argues You knew Urtula had suicidal thoughts and suffered from a deepening depression, yet she still encouraged him to take his life.

Back in October, Rollins acknowledged similarities between You's case and Carter's case but said there were significant differences as well, such as the complete control You had over Urtula.

Carter’s lawyers maintained her texts were constitutionally protected free speech. Her conviction was upheld by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, but has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which hasn’t yet decided whether it will take up the case.

You’s lawyers say the DA is making a radical expansion of the Carter case and say the case should be dismissed.

During Thursday’s hearing, the defense sought to lift You’s travel restrictions, which would let her travel anywhere in the United States; right now she is required to remain in Massachusetts. There was no objection from the prosecution, but the judge denied it, though they can re-filed the motion if they specify where You intends to go and provide an address.

In another motion, the defense asked for an order to preserve all the texts exchanged between You and Urtula. According to the defense, those messages are kept on laptops and cell phones, which the defense says are with the Urtula family. They are asking to inspect everything on the devices in order to gather a full picture of the messages exchanged.

That motion was denied as well.

You is set to appear back in court on April 9th for a motion to dismiss the case where prosecutors will get a chance to argue against it.

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