Former BC Student Indicted in Boyfriend's Suicide
A former Boston College student has been indicted in connection with the suicide of her boyfriend, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins announced on Monday.
Inyoung You, 21, of South Korea, is charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of 22-year-old Alexander Urtula, who was also a student at Boston College.
Urtula reportedly jumped to his death from the Renaissance parking garage in Roxbury around 8:30 a.m. on May 20, just 90 minutes before he was scheduled to walk across the stage at Boston College's commencement. His family had traveled from New Jersey to see him graduate.
You was present at the time of Urtula's death, the district attorney said, and had allegedly urged him to take his life thousands of times during their 18-month relationship.
"She was aware of his suicidal thoughts, and she encouraged him to take his own life," Rollins said.
The abuse was witnessed by family and classmates of both parties and is documented extensively in text messages and in Urtula's journal entries, Rollins said.
"Ms. You was physically, verbally and psychologically abusive toward Urtula. During their 18-month relationship, the abuse became more frequent, more powerful and more demeaning."
In the two months prior to Urtula's death, prosecutors said he and You exchanged more than 75,000 text messages, 47,000 plus from the girlfriend.
You is currently in Korea, Rollins said. Officials are working with her representative and are "cautiously optimistic" that she will voluntarily return to Boston, but if not, they will pursue other avenues in an effort to have her extradited back.
The involuntary manslaughter charge You is facing is the same one Michelle Carter was convicted of in 2017 in connection with her boyfriend Conrad Roy III's suicide. Carter began serving her 15-month sentence in February and was denied parole last month.
Carter was 17 when Roy, 18, took his own life in Fairhaven, a town on Massachusetts' south coast in July 2014. Her case garnered international attention and provided a disturbing look at teenage depression and suicide.
Carter and Roy both struggled with depression, and Roy had previously tried to kill himself. Their relationship consisted mostly of texting and other electronic communications.
In dozens of text messages revealed during her sensational trial, Carter pushed Roy to end his life and chastised him when he hesitated. As Roy made excuses to put off his plans, her texts became more insistent.
If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting 'Home' to 741741.
Photo Credit: Suffolk County District Attorney
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