The Girl from Plainville is inspired by the true story of Michelle Carter, of Massachusetts, and her controversial "texting-suicide" case. Based off of the Esquire article of the same name by Jesse Barron, the series will explore Carter's relationship with Conrad Roy III and the events that led to his death and, later, her controversial conviction of involuntary manslaughter. Carter was convicted in 2017 for encouraging Roy's suicide via a series of texts and phone calls.