BOSTON- A former Boston College student is facing involuntary manslaughter charges after investigators say she encouraged her boyfriend's suicide through a barrage of text messages.
Authorities say 21-year-old Inyoung You was there when her boyfriend, 22-year-old Alexander Urtula, jumped from a parking garage to his death on the morning of May 20, hours before Urtula was set to walk at his graduation.
Now, You, a South Korean national currently back in her home country, is being indicted on involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with her 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.
Prosecutors added You was controlling to the point where she would track Urtula's location through his cellphone to find him.
Dr. Meghan McCoy, a researcher at the Massachusetts Aggressive Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University, which focuses on bullying and cyberbullying, says a case like this highlights the concerns about social media and mental health among young people.
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."
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