The title of this article is that he "didn't have to die." That is correct, he didn't have to kill himself. Yes, he faced significant adversity, which he brought upon himself. It's said that character is how you deal with adversity. This person chose to end his own life instead of confront the challenge he sought. No, the federal prosecutor was not in the right, but neither are they in the wrong for the decision by Mr. Swartz to kill himself.