BOSTON — Boston 25 News has obtained a portion of the text messages shared between a Boston College student and the girlfriend accused in his suicide.
The texts, exchanged between 22-year-old Alexander Urtula and 21-year-old Inyoung You, are from the morning of May 20, the day Urtula jumped from a parking garage to his death. That day, Urtula committed suicide just hours before he was set to walk at his graduation.
On Oct. 29, You was indicted on involuntary manslaughter in Urtula's death.
>> Former BC student indicted on involuntary manslaughter in boyfriend's suicide
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.
"The investigation revealed that Ms. You used manipulative attempts and threats of self-harm to control him. It also found that she was aware of his spiraling depression and suicidal thoughts brought on by her abuse, yet she persisted, continuing to encourage to take his own life," said Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.
Officials say in the two months prior to Urtula's death, the couple exchanged more than 75,000 text messages, of which You sent more than 47,000.
Amid the tens of thousands of text messages shared by the couple were texts from You saying things like "Go kill yourself," or "Just die."
According to Rollins, You was controlling to the point where she would track Urtula's location through his cellphone to find him.
An executive with Rasky PR, a firm hired by Inyoung You's defense and now working on her behalf, confirms the texts to Boston 25 News.
Sources tell Boston 25 News You has agreed to waive extradition and voluntarily return to the U.S.
Read some of the texts below:
Upon the release of the text messages, Matthew Brelis, the Director of Communications for the Suffolk County DA said, in a statement:
"This office will not comment further on the investigation at this point, or on the evidence that supported our charging decision. More facts and evidence will be made available at the arraignment and throughout the course of the litigation. Until that point, we have no further comment."
The case is reminiscent of that of Michelle Carter, the Massachusetts woman who was sentenced to 15 months in jail after she was convicted in 2017 of involuntary manslaughter for using text messages and phone calls to encourage her boyfriend, Conrad Roy, him to kill himself in 2014.
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.
>> All the texts between Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy the day he died